Blazers edge Francis Marion 2-0

August 30, 2013

ORANGEBURG, SC – The University of Alabama at Birmingham connected on a pair of long-range shots to defeat Francis Marion University 2-0, Friday evening (Aug. 30) in the opening match of the Sleep Inn Women’s Soccer Classic at South Carolina State University.

The Patriots drop to 0-2 on the young season and will finish the two-day event by facing Gardner-Webb University on Sunday at 1 p.m. GWU played the host Bulldogs in Friday’s late match.

UAB’s Kasey Johnson fed Abbey Phillips in the middle of the box, but the ball rebounded back out to Johnson who fired a 20-yard shot into the net at 10:56.

Francis Marion had two opportunities to knot the score in the first stanza. Chanel Harris fed Elizabeth Asare in the box, but her shot from 14 yards out was wide of the goal. A botched clearance by UAB off a Patriot free kick fell at the feet of FMU senior Jordan Allen in the 36th minute, but her 11-yard shot went just outside the left post.

In the second half, again Francis Marion had opportunities to equalize the match. A dangerous cross from freshman Caroline Edmonds in the 52nd minute was pushed aside by UAB goalkeeper Angelica Jimenez. Seven minutes later, defender Kristin Leung fed Edmonds along the right sideline and Edmonds whipped a cross into the box that Harris headed just outside the right post.

With FMU pushing forward and moving to a three-defender set, the Blazers (2-1-0) doubled the margin to 2-0 in the 85th minute. Erin Pincombe rocketed a 24-yard shot into the upper left corner of the FMU goal.

UAB outshot Francis Marion 19-8 and held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. FMU sophomore goalkeeper Taylor O’Berry registered nine saves, while Jimenez made three stops.

Alabama-Birmingham (2-1-0) def. Francis Marion Univ. (0-2-0) 2-0

Date: Aug 30, 2013 Attendance: 75

Weather: Mostly Sunny, Hot, 90 degrees

Goals by period 1 2 Tot

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Francis Marion Univ. 0 0 - 0

Alabama-Birmingham.. 1 1 - 2

SCORING SUMMARY:

1-0. 10:56 UAB JOHNSON, Kasey (1) (PHILLIPS, Abby) - 20-yard shot from straight on

2-0. 84:54 UAB PINCOMBE, Erin (1) (unassisted) - 24-yard blast into upper left corner

Shots: Francis Marion Univ. 8, Alabama-Birmingham 19; Saves: Francis Marion Univ. 9 (Taylor O'Berry 9), Alabama-Birmingham 3 (JIMENEZ, Angelica 3)

Sleep Inn Classic at SC State University in Orangebrug, SC