Soccer Earns Key Draw on the Road

Thursday, October 23

Knoxville, Tenn.

6:00 p.m

Alabama

9-6-2, 4-4-1SEC

Tennessee

8-8-1, 5-3-1SEC

OT 3

OT 4

Alabama

TENNESSEE

Soccer Earns Key Draw on the Road

10/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 23, 2008

Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Alabama soccer team earned a key double-overtime draw on the road against Tennessee Thursday night. The two squads played the full 110 minutes to a 1-1 tie at Regal Soccer Stadium. Alabama used some last second heroics from Grace Lawson to send the match to overtime and earn the key point in Southeastern Conference division play. With the draw, the Crimson Tide move to 9-6-2 overall and 4-4-1 in SEC play while the Lady Vols move to 8-8-1 on the season and 5-3-1 in conference action.

"We just hung in there," head coach Todd Bramble said. "We had to regroup at halftime. They had physically taken us out of the game but we responded well. To come out and get a tie in Knoxville says a lot of where we are headed."

The point earned against the Lady Vols is the first for the Crimson Tide since a 1-0 Alabama victory in 1998. The Crimson Tide had never earned a point in Knoxville against Tennessee. Alabama has yet to lose in overtime this season, moving its record to 1-0-2.

Tennessee started the match off with a goal in the 23rd minute. Devon Swaim found the back of the net from six yards out off a Hannah Hut pass. UT had control of the first half by out-shooting UA 11-0 in the first frame. The Crimson Tide rallied after the half to earn a 7-6 advantage in the period.

With just over 30 seconds left in the match the Crimson Tide got its goal from an unfamiliar source. Lawson, a first-year defender for the Tide moved the match to overtime with a perfect finish from 10-yards out in the upper right corner for her first goal of the season. Senior midfielder Kailey Corken set up the match-tying tally. The assist for Corken moves her season points total to 15.

Alabama came out after the intermission in a 3-4-3 formation. The key change at the half enabled the Crimson Tide to change the course of the match by moving the ball consistently onto the UT defensive third.

Despite giving up a 20-8 shot advantage to the Lady Vols the Crimson Tide defense held strong led by the eight saves by junior goalkeeper Kara Gudmens. Jaimel Johnson made four saves for Tennessee. Three different Alabama players paced the team with two shots apiece. Swaim led UT with five shots, putting two on goal.

Alabama will cap off its long week with its final home match of the season. The Crimson Tide will face the Georgia Bulldogs on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. at the UA Soccer Complex. The match will mark senior day for nine players as they will be suiting up for the last time in front of the Alabama faithful.