Women’s Soccer Drops 1-0 Decision at UAB

Thursday, October 24

Birmingham, Ala.

7:00 p.m.

Tulsa

7-8-2, 3-5-0

UAB

6-4-4, 3-2-3

Team	1	2	Final F
Tulsa	0	0	0
UAB	1	0	1

Photo by: Joshua Rogers

Women’s Soccer Drops 1-0 Decision at UAB

10/24/2024 9:31:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BOX SCORE (PDF) | SEASON STATS (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Tulsa women's soccer team fought hard for what would have been a crucial late-season American Athletic Conference victory, but the UAB Blazers turned away the Golden Hurricane in a 1-0 decision Thursday in Birmingham. Tulsa dropped to 7-8-2 overall and 3-5 in conference action, while the Blazers rose to 6-4-4 and 3-2-3 in league play.

TU attempted 12 shots in the first 45 minutes and 14 shots in the second 45, but none could find their way home due in part to strong goalkeeper play by UAB's Anika Toth, who finished with 13 saves on the night.

The Hurricane defense limited scoring opportunities for the Blazers but gave up a first-half goal in the 23rd minute that ended up being the deciding score in the shutout of the Hurricane.

The Tulsa women will play their final home game of the season against South Florida (11-2-3, 6-1-2 AAC) this Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. and will compete in their regular-season finale at No. 16 Memphis (11-1-2, 6-0-2 AAC) Thursday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.

How it Happened
Tulsa started the game aggressively, recording five shots, three shots on goal and three corner kicks by the 14th minute. D Ashlyn Fernandez attempted to send the ball into the net on a header during a third-minute corner kick, but a well-placed UAB defender saved it on the left side.

Fernandez attempted another header in the 19th minute off a TU free kick in enemy territory, but UAB's goalkeeper, Anika Toth, owner of six shutouts entering the game, leaped high and to the left to save another would-be Tulsa score.

Shortly after Tulsa's eighth shot of the night, the Blazers took the ball down the field and grabbed the first score of the night off a 23rd-minute header by Maiya Clark within the Hurricane's goalkeeper area. It was UAB's only shot on goal for the night and their third shot overall.

At the half, TU had 12 shots with six shots on goal to go with four corner kicks, while the Blazers had four shots, one attempt toward the net and two corners.

Tulsa never stopped shooting the ball in a scoreless second half as F Hannah Chance and F Leah Diaz each aimed shots toward the goal near the 65th minute but both were saved by UAB's Toth.

Fernandez fielded another corner kick in the 76th minute by winning a header battle with a Blazer defender but sailed the ball wide right resulting in a UAB goal kick.

F Blaine Schutte found herself in prime scoring position at the end of the 82nd minute, fielding a perfect pass from F Aniya Facen and launching the ball toward the middle of the goal but was unfortunately blocked by UAB's Toth. A few seconds later, M Ady Bechtel sent the ball flying towards the net from beyond the box and right into Toth's hands.

In a last-ditch effort to put a score on the board, M Maggie SymSmith took Tulsa's 26th shot late in the 88th minute, but once again it was saved by Toth. The final score read 1-0 UAB.

Game Notes

The overall series between Tulsa and UAB moved to 7-3-2 TU
Tulsa finished with 26 shots and 14 shots on goal, while the Blazers had only six shots and one on goal, the deciding score in Thursday's contest.
F Leah Diaz and D Ashlyn Fernandez each attempted the most shots for Tulsa (5).
The Blazers' goalkeeper Anika Toth earned the solo shutout with 13 saves.
Tatum Sanders started in goal for Tulsa and fell to 5-7-2 on the year.
Tulsa had five corner kicks to UAB's three.

Scoring Summary
Tulsa 0 0 - 0
UAB 1 0 - 1

Individual Scoring
Maiya Clark (UAB) at 22:08 (Abbey Burns)

Saves
Tatum Sanders (Tulsa) – 0
Anika Toth (UAB) – 13
UAB (Team) – 1