The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Mississippi State
Blazers Dominate Bulldogs In 3-0 Win
8/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 27, 2010
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Junior forward Laura McCalla tallied a pair of goals to lead UAB to a 3-0 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Friday night at the Starkville Sportsplex. Junior forward Carolyn Polcari added her first goal and assist of the season, as the Blazers improved to 1-2.
"We possessed the ball well tonight, but more importantly, when we created opportunities, we finished them," head coach Paul Harbin said. "Once we hit that first goal early, it gave us the confidence to get another one and the third goal sealed it."
McCalla notched her first goal in the 15th minute on a cross from Polcari then tacked on another in the 84th minute when she punched in a loose ball. McCalla now has a team-leading three goals on the season.
Polcari made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute when she centered a pass from senior defender Marie Yempuku.
Although Mississippi State (1-1) held a 19-15 shot advantage, the Blazers put nine on of their shots on frame compared to MSU's four, forcing Bulldog goalkeeper Skylar Rosson to make six saves. UAB out-cornered the Bulldogs, 7-4.
The Blazer defense also stepped up, as senior goalkeeper Kate Blankenship made her first start of the 2010 season and picked up the shutout. Blankenship made four saves in the contest, including three in the first half.
"Alexis did a great job stepping in for us in the first two games, but Kate, being a fifth-year senior, brings a wealth of experience in the back," Harbin said. "She is such a leader and has experience organizing the line in front of her, which gives them confidence because they know where she's going to be. We had been struggling in the back but I think we're closer to finding that rhythm."
UAB concludes the weekend road trip with a match at Ole Miss on Sunday. The Blazers and Rebels square off at 1 p.m.
