The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Middle Tennessee
UAB Suffers 2-0 Loss in C-USA Opener
9/27/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 27, 2013
Box Score
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The UAB women's soccer team (7-3-0, 0-1-0) suffered a 2-0 setback to Middle Tennessee (4-3-2, 1-0-0) in its first Conference USA match of the season on Friday night. Two second half goals by the host Blue Raiders downed the Blazers.
"We controlled the tempo for the majority of the match," head coach Harold Warren commented. "We just didn't capitalize on the good opportunities we had."
Neither team could find the back of the net in the opening frame. Senior midfielder Kirsten Ebert had a shot on goal in the 15th minute, but was turned away by the Blue Raiders' keeper. 11 minutes later, senior midfielder Jasmine Kauka had a strike on frame, but was once again stymied by the Middle Tennessee goalkeeper.
Middle Tennessee came out of the break and jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Blue Raiders sophomore forward Tori Hawkins, the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week, placed a ball into the top right corner past UAB sophomore goalkeeper Courtnie Northern in the 48th minute.
Freshman forward Kimberly Fincher broke away from the MTSU defenders in the 54th minute, looking for the equalizer. Middle Tennessee sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Brouwer stopped Fincher on the doorstep, preserving the host team's advantage.
Sophomore midfielder Kate Loye extended MTSU's lead to 2-0 in the 64th minute. Loye placed a shot in the same spot as Hawkins, just past the outstretched arms of Northern.
UAB sophomore midfielder Paige Hanks had a one-on-one with Middle Tennessee's Brouwer in the 72nd minute. Hanks tried to get it past Brouwer, but Brouwer got a piece of it to keep the Blazers off the board.
"We played well enough to win," Warren concluded. "You have to give credit to Middle Tennessee. They just kept fighting and scored two nice goals."
The Green and Gold will be back in action on Sunday when it takes on Marshall in Huntington, W.V. The match is slated to begin at 12 p.m. CT.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For women's soccer news, follow @UABWomensSoccer.
