The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Dominates in Season Opener Against Gamecocks
8/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 27, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. --- The UAB women's soccer team opened the 2005 season with a 3-0 victory at Jacksonville State on Friday night on the JSU Soccer Field. The Blazers dominated the Gamecocks for the majority of the first half and posted three goals in the second period to clinch the first win of the new season.
"We had improved effort from everyone tonight," UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "We were very consistent and we showed we can play as a group. Playing together is going to be a key in our success throughout the season. Overall, I was pleased and we were able to play a lot of players."
In the first half, UAB led the way out-shooting the Gamecocks, 11-3. The Blazers were able to maintain a steady rhythm of play offensively and remained aggressive on defense. UAB's defensive play was so aggressive that JSU did not get a shot off until the 27th minute of the first half. Despite at late attack by the Gamecocks the match went into intermission scoreless.
UAB continued to control the match out of half, with the first goal for the Blazers coming in the 51st minute when sophomore Jill Porto scored unassisted. In the 68th minute junior midfielder Laura Richards led freshman Nasra Abdullah, who hit sophomore Sally Palmer in mid-stride to score her first goal of the year.
The final UAB goal came at the 77-minute mark when freshman Anna Martorana rebound a shot from Jill Porto to put the Blazers up 3-0.
JSU continued to apply pressure but could not manage a goal. The Gamecocks fall to 0-1 on the season.
"I was very impressed with the organization and effort of Jacksonville State today," said Harbin. "They have a new coach and new system and it's amazing the progress they've made in such a short time period."
The Blazers and Gamecocks both had five corner kicks but UAB led in shots on goal with a 19-6 advantage. Junior goalkeeper Katie Forbes played 81 minutes recording three saves.
UAB will travel to Lincoln, Neb., on Sunday to face the nationally-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers at 1 p.m. CT at Ed Weir Stadium.
