Tide splits weekend home games

The Alabama soccer team, 9-6-1, 4-4, beat South Carolina 1-0 Friday night before losing to No. 10 Florida 6-1 Sunday.

The shutout over the Gamecocks was the seventh for Alabama this season. Sophomore midfielder Rosaly Petriello scored the only goal in the 17th minute off a cross from senior Kailey Corken.

Head coach Todd Bramble said he felt the victory was in correlation with the leadership of some his upperclassmen.

“This is a veteran type team, we are getting great leadership right now,” Bramble said.

“From Jessica Deegan and Jamie Zimmerman playing really well for us, I think everybody is on the same page and we are real happy with the leadership right now with those players.”

Sunday afternoon Alabama suffered a tough loss against a top 10-ranked Florida team that is undefeated in the SEC. Megan Kerns led the Gators to the victory with a hat trick and two assists.

The Crimson Tide found themselves down 2-0 at halftime and out shot five to two.

“There was no reason for our attitude to be bad,” Bramble said. “I thought it was an even first half, out shot five to two. I’m just disappointed they could score two goals off five shots. There was no reason to be down because it was an even game.”

Alabama came out in the second half and matched Florida’s shot totals for the half within 11. There was a brief change in momentum in the second half when the Tide scored in the 54th minute off a header from forward Brooke Rogers.

“That’s our plan, to find a way to get the momentum,” Bramble said. “ We were trying to get the momentum to swing in our favor. It’s a risky technique; you can either tie the game up in that situation or the potential of getting beat 6-1.”

The game quickly changed when Florida’s Angela Napolitano scored off a one-on-one from 16 yards out to put the Gators up 3-1.

“This was a bizarre game, in that we don’t play terrible but we conceded six goals on 16 shots,” Bramble said. “You have to give Florida credit because they finished their chances. When they had their chances they buried them.

Alabama will head to Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday to take on the Volunteers, before returning to Tuscaloosa to play their final home game against Georgia Sunday.