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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State soccer team had a strong season opener, falling to Southeastern Conference member Alabama in a close 1-0 decision before a record crowd at KSU Stadium on Friday night.
“In the first game of a season we wanted to make sure we were organized,” said Head Coach
Rob King. “I think we were organized, played well as team and defended well. We had to defend solidly for 90 minutes. We had one little breakdown and they scored off it. Overall, I’m very pleased with the first game. I think you’ll see us a little more offensive in the next one.”
An enthusiastic crowd of 1,821 fans came out to show support in the Owls’ season opener.
The Owls (0-1-0) bent but did not break in the first half against the Crimson Tide (1-0-0), even as redshirt-freshman forward #Chelsea O’Callaghan# (Wellington, New Zealand/Wellington East Girls’ College) suffered an injury just 15 minutes in the match. Senior goalkeeper
Lauren Roberts (Rome, Ga./Marshall) and the KSU defense allowed 12 shots, but did not concede a goal in the first 45 minutes of play.
Katie Bourgeois broke the scoreless tie in the 56th minute as a deep Alabama throw-in found Kaitlyn Smith, who then tapped the ball to Bourgeois. Bourgeois one-touched the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal.
As the match wore down, the intensity from the players ramped up. Redshirt-sophomore forward
Katrina Frost (Fayetteville, Ga./South Carolina) and Alabama’s Theresa Diederich earned yellow cards on different plays down the stretch, while senior defender
Lexi Hastings (Ontario, Canada/Lassiter) was issued a red card in the final minutes of the contest and will not be available for the Owls on Sunday.
Alabama outshot the Owls 19 to 4, with nine shots on frame. Pia Rijsdijk led the way for the Crimson Tide with four shots, including one on goal. Frost notched two shots and had KSU’s lone shot on goal. Sophomore forward
Iyani Hughes (Chelsea, Ala./Chelsea) and redshirt-sophomore midfielder
Alma Gardarsdottir (Grindavik, Iceland/Fjolbrautaskoli Sudurnesja) added a shot each.
The Crimson Tide earned eight corner kicks on the night, while not giving up any to Kennesaw State. Roberts tallied seven saves in 90 minutes of work, while Alabam’s Shelby Church collected one save in the match.
Kennesaw State continues its opening weekend of play on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET as the Owls take on Alabama A&M at KSU Stadium.
Keep up with Owls soccer this year by following KSU on Twitter at @KSUOwlNation and @ksuOWLSsoccer, or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
