The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Women's Soccer To Start Spring Season
2/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 24, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB women's soccer team will open the 2006 spring schedule this weekend against Ole Miss and Mississippi State in Memphis, Tenn.
"I really enjoy the spring season and I think our players do as well," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "Without worrying about results, we're able to focus more on individual development. The spring is the time you really start to see players blossom. Quite a few players in the past who had very little previous experience has ended up establishing themselves as starters during these games."
The Blazers are coming off their third-consecutive Conference USA Tournament appearance and bring a talented group into the spring. UAB travels with 16 players this weekend with 10 underclassmen including five freshmen. Sophomores Sally Palmer and Jill Porto led the way in 2005. Both finished the year with nine goals and 20 or more points. Nasra Abdullah will also compete for the Blazers after a tremendous freshman season. Abdullah was named the 2005 Conference USA Freshman of the Year for her stellar play.
UAB will compete five days this spring against some of the nation's toughest opponents. The next competition for the Blazers will come on Saturday, March 25 against Georgia and North Carolina in Athens, Ga.
The Blazers will also face cross-town rival Samford this spring along with LSU at Orange Beach, Ala. UAB will take part in the first annual Governors Cup hosted by Birmingham-Southern on April 22.
Complete coverage of UAB women's soccer can be found at www.uabsports.com.
