The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Outlasts East Carolina in Overtime, 1-0
10/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 1, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's soccer team earned their second win in three days by outlasting the Pirates of East Carolina, 1-0, in overtime. Junior Sally Palmer scored the lone goal of the game with less than two minutes remaining in overtime to give UAB the win. The Blazers improved their record to 4-6, including an unblemished 2-0 mark in Conference USA matchups. East Carolina fell to 5-5-2 overall and 0-1-1 in league play.
"The key to our last two wins was that we've spent a lot of time on our set pieces," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "It was nice to see those things coming through. I also thought we did a decent job of continuing to play with the kind of rhythm that we've been working on.
"Today was a little bit of heart as well. We didn't play as good as we did on Friday night. We weren't as successful as we were Friday, but part of that is due to the fact that East Carolina is a very well organized team. Rob does a great job with them, especially defensively."
The game was a defensive struggle that resulted in a 0-0 tie at the end of regulation. During regulation, UAB out-shot East Carolina 6-2. The Pirates were charged with 20 fouls during the first 90 minutes of play, compared to UAB's 10 fouls.
During the first overtime period, UAB's Palmer headed in the game-winning goal with 1:38 left in the period to give the Blazers the victory. Palmer goal was assisted by junior Katie Henricks who got the ball to Palmer from a corner kick.
For the game, UAB nabbed nine shots while holding ECU to just two shots. Juniors Jill Porto and Jenny Meyer led the Blazers with two shots each. Patty Pierce and Amy Szilard took the only two shots of the day for East Carolina.
UAB senior goalkeeper Julie McFarlane saw her record improve to 4-3 by blanking the Pirates. ECU's Amber Campbell was forced to make four saves and allowed one goal during the 98:22 match.
"I was pleased with today," expressed Harbin. "It was a full team effort. Everyone played in this match and everyone really had a hand in getting the win."
Next up for the Blazers is a string of four consecutive road games. Their road trip begins on Friday, October 6 when they play at Southern Miss. UAB concludes the weekend on Sunday, October 8 with a match in Orlando, Fla. against UCF. The next home game for the Blazers will be on Friday, October 20 when Conference USA foe Houston comes to Birmingham for a 7 p.m. match at West Campus Field.
