Soccer Readies for Lone Match with Texas Tech
9/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 16, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team (4-2) will remain at home to play one fixture this weekend. The Crimson Tide will host the Red Raiders of Texas Tech (7-1) on Friday, Sept. 17, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Alabama Soccer Stadium. Both teams are coming off of wins last weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
Alabama was able to bounce back in a big way after a lopsided loss at No. 20 Memphis, with a convincing, 3-0 victory over Middle Tennessee State on Sunday. Senior Victoria Frederick scored her first goal of the 2010 campaign while fellow senior Brooke Rogers tallied two goals in the match to ensure the win. Freshman goalkeeper Shanna Brooks earned her first collegiate shutout on the strength of four saves. Kendall Khanna and Ashley Willis handed out assists for their first points of the season.
WHO TO WATCH
Alabama senior Brooke Rogers is putting together a career year and the season has just entered mid September. The target forward has already tallied four goals on the year, which is a single season career best for the native of Cincinnati. Rogers has twice tallied three goals in a season, including the three she scored in 2008, en route to being named to the All-SEC second-team. Rogers currently leads the team with eight points and her four goals rank tied for second in the league.
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
The Red Raiders enter Tuscaloosa with a 7-1 record, only dropping a 2-0 decision at No.3 Notre Dame on Sept. 5. Texas Tech has since won two straight and started the season with five straight victories. TTU is currently receiving votes in the polls, which is a program first for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech has out-scored its opponents 15-2 on the season and has out-shot its opposition, 140-80. TTU has already posted seven shutouts on the year with eight being the school record. On the year, junior Taylor Lytle leads the team in points with nine, and is tied with freshman Jessica Fuston with a team-best four goals. Fuston has a team-high 12 shots-on-goal, while Disabella also leads the team in shots-on-goal with 12 and 23 shots. Disabella and freshman Mallory Yacullo both have a team-best three assists. In goal, Colleen Pitts has played the majority of the minutes and has allowed just two goals in 495 minutes played, while posting 19 saves and five shutouts. Head coach Tom Stone is in his fourth year at the helm of the Red Raiders with a career record of 30-27-7.
SERIES HISTORY
The match on Friday will mark just the second meeting between the two programs but the inaugural meeting was one of the most exciting in Crimson Tide history. With just two seconds left in the second and final overtime, Kelsey King scored the game-winner to hand Alabama a thrilling 2-1 win at the Red Raider Classic. Senior Victoria Frederick tallied the first goal off a Kaitlyn Smith assist and Justine Bernier made 10 saves in the winning effort. Alabama went on to claim the Red Raider Classic title with a 1-0 win over TCU.
BRAMBLE NEARS WIN No. 100
Alabama head coach Todd Bramble enters the weekend just one victory shy of career win No. 100. The Crimson Tide manager sports a 99-73-20 record over the course of 10 seasons. Bramble put together an 80-51-17 record over seven seasons at Clemson.
ATHERTON NAMED AMONG NATION'S ELITE
Alabama freshman Molly Atherton was named one of the top 100 freshmen by Top Drawer. The website ranked the Gulfport, Miss., native No. 66 on the list. Atherton scored over 100 goals in her prep career at Gulfport High School and was twice named the Sun Herald Player of the Year. On the season, the rookie leads the team with two assists.
SHOT BARRAGE
The Alabama soccer team has had no shortage of shots as it has fired off 20 or more shots in its last three home games. The Tide ripped off 29 shots against Furman and then fired off 33 against Chattanooga. The 33 shots were the most by an Alabama team since it got off 32 against Jacksonville State in 2008. Alabama tallied 20 more shots in the win against Middle Tennessee State. On the season, the Tide has out-shot its opponents, 110-67.
BERNIER RETURNS FROM TEAM CANADA TRAINING CAMP
Alabama junior goalkeeper Justine Bernier participated in the Canadian women's national team training camp, which was held in Roma, Italy. Bernier was one of 24 players invited to the camp as the team prepares for the 2011 World Cup, being held in Germany. Bernier played in two matches before her departure, sporting a 2-0 record with a 0.50 goals against average and 12 saves while adding a shutout. The Canadian international is slated to start against Texas Tech. She enters the contest with a 101 minute scoreless streak.
SCHEDULE NOTE
The Alabama soccer team is quietly playing a tough non-conference schedule in 2010. Of the seven matches played before Southeastern Conference play, five of those teams won 10 or more contests in 2009. Samford only lost one match last season while Memphis earned 16 wins. UAB, Furman, and Middle Tennessee each had over 10 wins a year ago. Memphis was ranked No. 20 in the country when the two teams faced off while Texas Tech is receiving votes.
PROMOTIONS
The Alabama Soccer team will take on Texas Tech on the 17th of September for State Employee Night at the Alabama Soccer Complex. Food coupons will be given away to the first 300 fans in attendance. Also don't miss out on a chance to win an "iPad" just for attending Alabama soccer and volleyball games this season.
NEXT TIME OUT
Alabama will open Southeastern Conference play next weekend as it will host the two Mississippi schools. The Crimson Tide opens the week against the Rebels on Friday, Sept. 24 and then will close out the weekend against the Bulldogs on Sunday, Sept. 26. Kickoff against Mississippi is scheduled for 7 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. Sunday matinee against Mississippi State.
