The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Vanderbilt
Women's Soccer Falls At Vanderbilt, 4-1
9/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 21, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The UAB women's soccer team fell to the Vanderbilt Commodores, 4-1, Sunday afternoon at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. The match served as the Blazers' final non-conference game of the season.
UAB moves to 2-6 on the year and Vanderbilt improves its record to 6-1-1.
"We came out and didn't really challenge like Vanderbilt did today," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "We just got beat in every phase of the game today. We didn't fight for the game like we should have."
Vanderbilt got on the board first in the 17th minute when a shot by Amy Wilcox from 12 yards out went in the back of the net. The Commodores struck again in the 26th minute, courtesy of Candace West, to make the score 2-0.
UAB tightened the score to 2-1 in the 29th minute when junior forward Danya Barsalona capitalized on a penalty kick.
However, Vanderbilt got in one last score in the first half when Nicole Lukens' shot found the back of the net to give the Commodores a 3-1 lead at halftime.
One final score by Vanderbilt, on a penalty kick by Wilcox in the 55th minute, gave the Commodores the 4-1 win over UAB.
Vanderbilt led UAB in shots, 29-5, including a 16-3 edge in shots on goal for the Commodores.
Barsalona and sophomore forward Maureen Bellare paced the Blazers in shots with two each. Freshman midfielder Carolyn Polcari added one shot to UAB's efforts.
Wilcox led Vanderbilt with four shots on the day, including two shots on goal. Lukens, Molly Kinsella and Megan Forester added three shots each for the Commodores.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Blankenship (2-4-0) received the loss for the Blazers, allowing four goals and tallying nine saves in 78 minutes in the net.
Rachel Bachtel earned the win in goal for the Commodores, allowing one goal and nabbing two saves in 77 minutes in the net.
"We need to work together better," said Bellare. "We were good at the beginning of the game, but we need to play all 90 minutes like that. We have to want it more."
The Blazers will be back in action on Friday when they open their Conference USA slate by hosting UCF. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at West Campus Field.
"We're going to go into conference play with a clean slate," said freshman midfielder Natalie Watkins. "We need to pick our heads up and play like we know we can. I think we can really surprise some people in this conference."
