The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Win One In Dramatic Fashion, 3-2
9/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 13, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB women's soccer team showed heart and determination in a double-overtime win over the Georgia Bulldogs here Friday at the UAB Nike Classic. Jenny Rynders headed the ball off the crossbar, but Jill Knottek was there to put the ball in the net in the 116th minute to give the Blazers (2-2-1) the 3-2 victory.
"The extra effort by Jill at the end was great," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "She gave everything she could to put that in the back of the net."
After being down 2-1 in the second half, UAB fought back and tied the game in the 54th minute. Liz Bosscher scored off an assist from Knottek. The Bulldogs (1-4-0) and Blazers went into overtime tied at 2-2 after playing a physical game in regulation. The weariness started to show on both teams, but grit was the name of the game in the overtime periods.
"In the first overtime, I thought a couple of our players were dragging," said Harbin. "I told them I was going to replace them and they said, 'No Coach, I'm fine, I'm gonna make it'. It was an evenly matched game, it's one of those that could go either way. I'm excited that we played well against another team that I thought was playing well. It's makes a game out of it. I think this is the kind of game where our training pays off."
The UAB Nike Classic continues on Sunday, starting at noon when Georgia takes on Michigan. At 2 p.m., the Blazers host Massachusetts.
