Late Goal Lifts Alabama Soccer in Gutsy Win at UAB
For the first time this decade, Alabama soccer has started a regular season with a 2-0 mark. It was anything but easy to reach that mark on Sunday night, though.
That's because the UAB Blazers came close to fending off the No. 7 Crimson Tide at PNC Field in Birmingham, Ala. Midfielder Kate Henderson's goal in the 80th minute was the only blemish on an otherwise impeccable defensive night for the home team.
One was all it took in the 1-0 victory, but Alabama had to scratch and claw to get it.
"UAB had a great plan," head coach Wes Hart said. "They out a lot of numbers behind the ball and made it difficult for us to get behind them or create clear scoring chances. They also slowed the game down... We had a difficult time creating any flow or momentum in that first half."
The first half was challenging for both teams. The Crimson Tide took chances. Still, Alabama found itself defended well by the Blazers. UAB did its homework and it showed during the first 45 minutes. Goalkeeper Eve Beyer, fantastic throughout the match, was a brick wall.
Alabama thrives on taking a lot of chances. The UAB defense just didn't yield. After the intermission, things remained the same for several minutes. Many different Crimson Tide players saw time on the pitch, perhaps in the hope that those personnel changes could create a major shift in the match. That did happen, but it was not immediate.
In the 73rd minute, with fewer than 20 minutes to play, Alabama had its best look of the match. Midfielder Isabel Smith, for whom Sunday's contest was the first start for the Crimson Tide, found an opening in the staunch defense and took aim at the net. Beyer was there, but she fell down, and midfielder Leah Kunde was Johnny-on-the-spot for a putback attempt. Just as quickly as Beyer went down, she was back up, and made another save. This meant no dice for Kunde, and no first goal for the Crimson Tide.
Minutes later, it was a player who did not start that finally broke through the brick wall.
Alabama had gotten better as the half went on, controlling possession well and trying for opportunities when afforded them. The same could not be said for its counterpart. UAB had only one official shot, which was not on goal. In the 80th minute, Henderson, surrounded by the gray of the Blazers, took advantage of a bouncing ball situation and scored her first goal of the season. It was a rare defensive miscue by UAB, and the only time Beyer let up all night. She finished with seven saves.
There was time left on the clock, but it was not UAB's friend. The Blazers were unable to mount a response, which at worst would have resulted in a draw if no one else scored again before 90 minutes were up. UAB did take a corner kick in the 88th minute, but the Crimson Tide defense was strong too.
"I was pleased with the response in the second half," Hart said. "I thought we took another step in the right direction tonight. They challenged us in different ways than our first two opponents, and we were able to answer the test. Good teams find ways to win games, and we did that tonight."
Henderson's goal was her first big moment since returning from an injury that kept her shelved for the duration of last fall's postseason journey. On the bench Sunday night was star midfielder Felicia Knox, who was injured in the season opener. Her absence was felt tremendously. It's tough for any team when one of its best players is missing. The absence of Knox's on-field leadership in an early spot with a new-look roster stung as much as her skills being unavailable.
The midfield was especially compromised in the match owing to injuries, as Macy Clem has still not played this season. Defender Tanna Sanchez-Carreto took up the position for stretches of Sunday's match, while Nadia Ramadan, a freshman whose listed position is midfielder, spent time getting acclimated to the back line.
"Obviously not easy when you're missing Macy and Felicia. [It was] a great response from the rest of the group," said Hart. "Different players had to step up tonight."
The youth on the Alabama roster had a hand in the victorious effort. Ramadan has played strongly and done well on defense in her appearances. Freshman Cameron Silva, who has already impressed in an exhibition and two official contests, drew a foul shortly before Beyer's double save that up to that point was the contest's most pivotal moment. Jersey number 1 returned to net for the Crimson Tide, this time on the kit of fellow freshman Coralie Lallier. She made her first collegiate start and didn't let anything get past her, though she wasn't as busy as Beyer.
"Very pleased with our team defending," Hart said. "I believe we only gave away one shot on goal in our first two games. If we continue to be stingy defensively, it's going to give us a chance to win a lot of games. We need to keep working on the attack, but I'm excited about what lies ahead."
Alabama will have to regroup from the challenges of Sunday evening away from home. The Lipscomb Bisons may well feel that they have been issued the blueprint on how to take a top-ranked SEC team to its limit, and the Crimson Tide comes to them. That match will kick off at 5 p.m. CT on Aug. 24.
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