Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Alabama
Bama's Goal With Two Seconds Remaining Stuns Tech
September 18, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 18, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Alabama's Kelsey King connected on the game-winning goal with two seconds remaining in the second overtime period to stun Texas Tech, 2-1, Friday night in front of 1,048 fans at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
Despite maintaining a 30-6 shot advantage, the Red Raiders were unable to capitalize in front of the net to drop to 4-4 on the season and 0-1 in the Red Raider Classic. Alabama improves to 3-3 on the year and heads into Sunday's match against TCU with the tournament title on the line as TCU defeated Weber State, 2-1, earlier in the day.
"It was a tough loss for us because obviously we were dominant for 90-plus minutes," Tech head coach Tom Stone said. "We had all the possession, had all the chances, and played our hearts out, but I told our team afterwards if you let a team who is content to defend sit in and hang around, as well coached and well organized as they were, their belief level is going to go up. They took their chance in the waning seconds, and credit them for getting the goal."
Dawn Ward nearly got Tech on the board six minutes into the match, but the redshirt freshman had both her shot attempts blocked by a diving Justine Bernier, who collected five saves in the first half, including three in the first 10 minutes.
Despite playing to defend first, Alabama netted the first half's only goal as Victoria Frederick took a Kaitlyn Smith pass from the left side and fired the ball past an approaching Erin Wikelius.
After a quick turnover at midfield, Taylor Lytle got the Red Raider offense going to start the second half, finding Conner Williams streaking down the left side, who immediately tapped the ball to Ward sitting atop the circle. With a defender in her face, Ward sidestepped and fired to the right side of the net, pulling the Red Raiders to a 1-1 draw in the 58th minute.
Tech continued its offensive attack throughout the final minutes of regulation, maintaining a 12-0 shot advantage in the half, but Bernier was there to make the save each time as the sophomore finished with a season-high 10 saves in the match.
For the third time this season, the Red Raiders were forced into overtime, but would not be able to mount any offense in the first extra period, attempting only one shot. With the match appearing like it was heading for a tie, King struck at the appropriate time, taking a Tech turnover at the top of the box and firing past a diving Wikelius.
"It's a tough lesson for our team because I don't know if we've been that dominant in my three years and got anything but a win," Stone said. "It's part of the cruelty of the game we play. Sometimes you can be the better team and still get beat. Having said that, we give Alabama credit for executing their game plan, and to be fair, their goalkeeper was in another planet. She was the best player on the field, and their keeper is the reason they won the game. She was phenomenal."
Lytle and Ward combined for 20 of Tech's 30 shot attempts, setting career-highs for both players. Tech totaled a season-high of 12 shots-on-goal in the match.
The 1,048 fans in attendance set a new John Walker Soccer Complex record and was the most fans at any home match during Stone's three-year tenure.
Tech will look to finish off the Red Raider Classic with a strong performance against Weber State at 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. TCU and Alabama will faceoff prior to the match, beginning at 11 a.m.
