This past weekend, the Alabama women’s soccer team dropped two games on the road against Southeastern Conference opponents Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
“It was disappointing, but at the same time it’s the first weekend where we came out all season long feeling disappointed in our performance,” head coach Todd Bramble said. “That’s kind of a good news, bad news scenario. It was a valuable lesson. We got away from what’s brought us all the success in the early part of the season, and hopefully we’ll just serve that as a refocusing point for the rest of the way now.”
On Friday, the team lost to Kentucky 3-1 in Lexington, Ky. After a scoreless first half, UK scored three goals in the second, while Victoria Frederick scored the Tide’s lone goal. The Tide outshot Kentucky 17-11 in the match, but the now 8-6-2 Wildcats upset the Tide, who was sitting atop the SEC West.
Alabama completed its weekend road trip by traveling to Nashville to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores. After scoring their first goal in less than five minutes, the Commodores went on to shut out the Tide 2-0. It was the third time the team had been shut out this season. The loss moved the Tide’s record to 8-5-2 (3-3-2).
“It was tough,” said senior defender Hailey Hull. “We were kind of separated a little bit. I think in the long run, the losses really brought us together. I think we’re good from here on out in the next three games.”
Senior forward Frederick said, “This past weekend, we didn’t come together. We were kind of tired, and it was just that point in the season where you kind of hit a lull.”
Now that a three-game losing streak has slipped Alabama down to third place in the SEC West, the Tide looks to get back on the right track tonight when they host No. 20 Georgia for the last home game of the season.
“Through our senior leadership and our captains and with the training session we had [Tuesday] morning, [it] leaves no doubt in my mind that they’ve put it behind them,” Bramble said. “We’re clearly just focused on the future, and we got a good feeling about Thursday night.”
Georgia currently holds a 9-3-4 (4-1-3) record following a weekend where the Bulldogs took a loss from Florida and got a win over South Carolina. UGA leads the all-time match record against UA 10-3.
“They’re an NCAA tournament-caliber team,” Bramble said. “So, it’s an opportunity for us to beat a team that’s had the upper hand on Alabama in the series. They’re a well balanced team. It’s going to be a tight game. It’s going to be two teams that like to try to play good soccer and really aggressive defensively.”
The Tide lost in Athens last year 3-0.
“This year it’s going to be tough,” Hull said. “They’re set a little bit higher than us in the standings, and they’ve been doing well against really good teams. So, it’s almost like we have the element of surprise, and we can come in and knock them off.”
To be successful, the team has to get back to the basics that brought success earlier this season.
“We’re focusing on our game because that’s when we’re our best,” Frederick said. “We have to play together, be positive, feed off each other and be energetic, and play how we know how to play. It’s been successful so far.”
Tonight’s game will be senior night, honoring the team’s five seniors, Frederick, Hull, Kelly King, Rosaly Petriello and Brooke Rogers. Though it may bring some sad moments, Frederick and Hull say there is lots of excitement, and they want to take it all in.
“I hope to send our seniors out on a high note,” Bramble said. “It’s a night that is extra special for the seniors because it’s the last time they get to put on a Alabama home uniform and play on this beautiful field. These are five players that have poured a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this complex right here. For us to be able to send them out and have lasting memories of a winning performance on this night is what I want more than anything for them.”
