The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama
Women's Soccer Suffers Loss to Alabama
9/15/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 15, 2013
Box Score
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The UAB women’s soccer team (6-2-0) kept Alabama (2-5-0) off the board for over 85 minutes, but the Crimson Tide broke through in the 86th minute to hand the squad a 1-0 defeat in Tuscaloosa on Sunday night. Alabama sophomore midfielder Merel Van Dongen scored the game-winning goal.
Sunday night’s loss snapped a five-match win streak for UAB. It marked its longest win streak since 2009, when the team won its first six games of the year.
“It was a pretty good game,” head coach Harold Warren commented. “Alabama just hustled; they won the 50/50 balls, played good defense, etc. They were one step ahead. It was a tough game, but a good game. We just did not have enough opportunities up front.”
The Crimson Tide was the aggressor throughout the match, outshooting the Blazers, 28-8. UAB sophomore goalkeeper Courtnie Northern kept the Green and Gold in the game, keeping host-Alabama at bay for nearly the entire match. The Fort Worth, Texas native collected seven saves on the night, matching a career-best.
The Blazers had their only shot on goal early in the match. Sophomore midfielder Paige Hanks fired a shot on Alabama sophomore goalkeeper Emily Rusk in the 11th minute. Rusk denied the shot, keeping the Green and Gold off the board.
Northern kept the home team in check in the first half, recording her only save of the period on a penalty kick. In the 20th minute, the sophomore goalkeeper stymied Alabama’s Van Dongen, keeping the visiting Blazers alive.
In the second frame, Northern continued to be a strong presence in the goal. She made six saves in the half to keep UAB in the game.
“Courtnie handled their shots,” Warren added. “She did well. She did what she was supposed to do. We just didn’t execute well enough in front of her.”
With only minutes to spare in regulation, Van Dongen headed in a direct kick from senior midfielder Kendall Khanna to seal the win for Alabama.
The UAB women’s soccer team will remain on the road for its next three matches. Next, the Blazers will travel to Little Rock, Ark. as they take on Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday, Sept. 20. The match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For women's soccer news, follow @UABWomensSoccer.
