Alabama
5-6-1, 1-3-1SEC
South Carolina
13-0-1, 5-0-1SEC
Two Quick Goals Sink Soccer 2-0
10/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 11, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Alabama soccer team gave up two goals early in the first half in just over a minute apart to fall to No. 7 ranked South Carolina 2-0 Sunday afternoon at Stone Stadium. After the weekend the Crimson Tide moves to 5-6-1 overall and 1-3-1 in Southeastern Conference play. The Gamecocks remain unbeaten at 13-0-1 and 5-0-1 in league play.
"This game caps off a disappointing weekend," Alabama head coach Todd Bramble said. "The performance was sub-par. We need to take responsibility and go back to the drawing board. The issues are fixable. We played with them in the second half and had some chances."
It was Blakely Mattern that did the damage to the Crimson Tide as she scored two goals in just over a minute apart.
Mattern scored her first in the 12th minute off a set piece. Mattern was able to get to a Kim Miller service and find net on a header to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 advantage.
Her second came a minute and 40 seconds later when she netted her second goal with her head. On a corner kick Sam Diaz-Matosas found the forehead of Mattern to finish the scoring and give the Gamecocks the final 2-0 advantage.
Alabama was out-shot 18-5 as junior midfielder Rosaly Petriello paced the Tide with two tallied. Diaz-Matosas and Brooke Jacobs led the Gamecocks with three shots apiece.
Crimson Tide goalkeeper Justine Bernier tallied her eighth straight game with five or more saves as the sophomore made nine stops. Mollie Patton tallied one save in 90 minutes for South Carolina.
Alabama will return home next week and open play on Oct. 16 against Kentucky and then host Vanderbilt on Sunday, Oct. 18. Both matches will be played at the Alabama Soccer Stadium.
Team Stats
Blakely Mattern (5)
Assisted By: Kim Miller
Header off free kick
11:07
Blakely Mattern (6)
Assisted By: Sam Diaz-Matosas
Header off CK
12:47
