The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Soccer To Compete In Sleep Inn Classic
8/29/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug 29, 2013
Game Notes 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB women’s soccer team will travel to Orangeburg, S.C. this weekend to take part in the Sleep Inn Classic hosted by South Carolina State. The Blazers will face Francis Marion in their first game on Friday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m. CT. The Green and Gold will conclude the weekend with a match-up against South Carolina State on Sunday, Sept. 1, at 10 a.m. CT.
Scouting The Patriots
Francis Marion was shutout in its season-opener, 1-0, to Charleston Southern on Aug. 26. Taylor O’Berry took the loss for Patriots allowing the one goal and making three saves.
The Patriots finished the 2012 season with a 7-9-1 overall record. They ended the season with 28 goals scored and allowed 36. O’Berry started all 17 games for the Patriots last season, collecting 102 saves with a 2.06 goals against average.
FMU returns both top scorers from a year ago in Yasmin Bunter and Elizabeth Asare. Bunter started all 17 games, recording seven goals and four assists. Asare, who started 11 games but played in all 17, tallied six goals and two assist on the season.
Scouting The Bulldogs
The 2013 Bulldogs are off to a 2-1 start to the season. In its two wins, SCSU has outscored its opponents 7-1, having defeated Alabama A&M, 5-0, and Presbyterian, 2-1. Their lone setback came against Alabama State, 5-0.
Kaitlynn Cortez leads South Carolina State in 2013 with two goals and two assists through SCSU’s first three games. Five other Bulldogs have tallied a goal. Haley Austin has started all three games for South Carolina State, making 14 saves and allowing six goals.
Opening weekend
Last weekend, the Blazers opened the season with a 1-1 showing against a pair of SEC teams. UAB downed Vanderbilt in Nashville, 3-1, before falling to Ole Miss at home, 5-2.
Midfielders Johanna Liney and Abby Phillips each tallied a goal against Vanderbilt with defender Erin Pincombe picking up an assist. The third goal came on an own goal by the Commodores’ defender. Against Ole Miss on Sunday, Paige Hanks accounted for both goals with Megan Collins getting the assist on both plays.
Angelica Jimenez got the start in net for both games. She made four saves and allowed one goal in the win against Vanderbilt.
Preseason Player To Watch
Liney was selected as one of 16 women’s soccer players on the Conference USA Preseason Player to Watch list. The junior from Marietta, Ga., was a Third-Team All-C-USA honoree last season after leading the Blazers in goals (6), assists (3), points (15) and shots (39). Her 15 shots on goal also tied for a team-high.
Experience Coming Back
UAB returns nine of its 11 starters from a year ago including top scorers Liney and Hanks, who combined for 10 of the Blazers’ 18 goals scored last season. The back line of seniors Sam Bradford and Amy Harrison and junior Mary Catherine Combs have started a combined 93 games for the Green and Gold. And in net, sophomores Courtnie Northern and Jimenez both return for the Blazers.
Senior Leadership
The Blazers will field six seniors on this year’s squad including captains Bradford, Kirsten Ebert and Harrison. Other seniors on the team include Jasmine Kauka, Phillips and Pincombe.
