Soccer Splits Weekend with 4-1 Loss to Kentucky

Sunday, September 25

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1:00 p.m

Alabama

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

Kentucky

8-2-0, 1-1-0SEC

Kentucky

Alabama

Soccer Splits Weekend with 4-1 Loss to Kentucky

9/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 25, 2011

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - In a bizarre match that featured seven yellow cards and three red cards, the Alabama soccer team capped off its weekend with a 4-1 loss to Kentucky Sunday afternoon. After the weekend the Crimson Tide moves to 6-3-1 overall and 1-1 in Southeastern Conference play.

"We fought tough in the first half but faced a lot of adversity in the second half," senior defender Veronika Wolfkeil said. "Kentucky was able to take us out of our mindset and keep us from playing our game."

Kentucky (8-2-0, 1-1 SEC) took the lead two minutes into the second half when Kelsey Hunyadi rattled the upper-v from 25 yards out.

After the 65th minute is when the match got interesting. Alabama had two players red carded in Janea Simpson and goalkeeper Justine Bernier.

The Wildcats took advantage of the shorthanded Tide, scoring three goals, including a penalty kick in the final 20 minutes of play.

Alabama did get on the board when redshirt freshman Theresa Diederich buried a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. The goal was her third on the season.

Bernier finished the match with six saves. Alabama was outshot 22-14 on the strength of a 19-6 margin in the second half. Molly Atherton led the Tide with five shots.

In the first half Alabama outshot Kentucky 8-3 but both teams had their chances to get on the scoreboard. With 18 minutes left in the first half Diederich nearly gave the Tide the lead when she took a Kendall Khanna pass in the 18-yard box but UK keeper Kayla Price thwarted the play.

Bernier kept the match scoreless in the final minute of the first half when she stopped of point-blank shot off the foot of Taylor Parker.

Alabama will hit the road after its longest homestand of the season as it will travel to the state of Mississippi for two matches. The Crimson Tide will open the road trip against Mississippi State on Friday, Sept. 30, and then face Mississippi on Sunday, Oct. 2, in Oxford.