Women's Soccer Claims 1-0 Win at UAB

Box Score

TAMPA - The University of South Florida women's soccer team marched into the University of Alabama-Birmingham's West Campus Field and came away with a 1-0 win as senior captain Melanie Sutherland broke a scoreless tie with just minutes remaining in regulation.

“I really feel the ladies were prepared coming into the game and it showed in their execution,” said USF head coach Denis Schilte-Brown. “I'm proud of the team as I really feel it was a complete team effort.”

Both teams were held scoreless in the first half as Bulls fired 5 shots, two of which were on goal.  The Bulls' defense and senior goalkeeper Mallori Lofton-Malachi turned away any Blazer offensive attack.

The tie continued into the 88th minute, but the tie was broken when Sutherland made her only shot of the game count as hammered home the game-winner. The goal was Sutherland's first of the season and first in the defenders career.

“We played hard whole and were fighting the entire game,” said Sutherland. “I think it was clear that we wanted it more. We wanted the win.”

“Melanie is playing hard,” added Schilte-Brown. “Melanie, along with the rest of the team, is playing hard for each other and it is really showing.”

For the game, the Bulls outshot the Blazers 10-8. The Bulls also tallied five of those shots on goal compared to the Blazers three. In their first two games, USF has out shot their two opponents by an impressive margin of 38-11.

The Bulls overcame 14 fouls and three yellow cards as well as five offside's to the Blazers zero.

Lofton-Malachi was once again solid in goal for the Bulls as she registered three saves on her way to her first shutout of the 2008 season and the sixth of her career.

Although six players played the full 90 minutes for the Bulls, 15 players saw over 17 minutes of play.

“It really was solid team effort over,” said Schilte-Brown. “Everyone contributed.”

The Bulls will look to stay undefeated and try to make it back-to back wins as they continue their journey north to Nashville, Tenn. for a meeting with the Commodores of Vanderbilt on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m.