Soccer Downs Vanderbilt 2-0 in SEC Opener

Friday, September 23

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7:00 p.m

Alabama

6-2-1, 1-0-0SEC

Vanderbilt

6-3-0, 0-1-0SEC

Vanderbilt

Alabama

Molly Atherton tallied her first career goal on a corner kick on the first half.

Soccer Downs Vanderbilt 2-0 in SEC Opener

9/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 23, 2011

Box Score | Photo Gallery

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team opened the Southeastern Conference portion of its schedule in impressive fashion as it downed Vanderbilt, 2-0, Friday night at the Alabama Soccer Stadium. With the win the Crimson Tide improves to 6-2-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.

"It was great to get a win at home and was important to get a result to start the conference season," Alabama head coach Todd Bramble said. "It was a special night for K.K. (Duffy) and she really stood out tonight on her senior day."

Sophomore Molly Atherton tallied her first career goal in the 32nd minute when she curved a corner kick over the Vanderbilt keeper far post.

Freshman Pia Rijsdijk added the insurance in the 73rd minute when she buried an open netter off a sophomore Kendall Khanna pass.

Khanna blitzed past the Commodore backline and played a perfectly placed ball back to Rijsdijk from the end line to give the Netherlands native her second goal in as many games.

Rijsdijk led all players with eight shots, putting three on goal. Candace West paced Vanderbilt with six shots, putting three on frame.

Alabama goalkeeper Justine Bernier recorded 10 saves and her fourth shutout of the season, 24 hours after suiting up for Team Canada in an international friendly against Team USA that was played across the country in Portland, Ore.

The shutout was the 18th of her career and the third in a row for the senior. Jessica Amlaw allowed two goals and recorded four saves for Vanderbilt.

With the win, coach Bramble has now won his league opener in every season while on the bench at Alabama.

Alabama will wrap up its first weekend of SEC play when it hosts Kentucky for a Sunday matinee. The two teams will meet on Sept. 25, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m., at the Alabama Soccer Stadium.