Sept. 6, 2009
Final Stats | Box Score (PDF)
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The UAB women's soccer team won its sixth straight game and moved to 6-0 on the season with a 2-1 victory over Pacific on the second day of competition at the Outrigger Hotel & Resorts Soccer Classic on Saturday evening. Freshman Emily Sinovich (O'Fallon, Mo.) and junior Marie Yempuku (Honolulu, Hawaii) scored back-to-back goals in the 70th minute to help the Blazers nab the comeback win.
Pacific struck first in the 24th minute when Angelica Figueroa took a free kick and passed it to Maricela Padilla. Padilla kicked a low shot in the middle of the net to give the Tigers the early 1-0 lead.
The Blazers made a dramatic and quick comeback in the 70th minute, beginning with an unassisted goal by Sinovich at the 70:14 mark the tie the game at 1-1. The goal was the first of Sinovich's career.
Just 45 seconds later, Yempuku took a free kick from 30 yards out and put it in the lower left corner of the net to give the Blazers the 2-1 lead and the win. The score marked Yempuku's first of the season and the third of her career.
"Pacific is a very talented team and possibly the most physical team we've played against," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "In the first half, we got caught up in the frantic pace of the game and Pacific was able to finish off a free kick.
"During the second half, we matched Pacific's intensity, but more importantly, we possessed the ball on the ground and established a more flowing rhythm of play. That was definitely the turning point in the match."
UAB was efficient on the night, connecting on two of its seven shots against the Tigers. Pacific took 14 total shots during the game, including six on goal.
UAB sophomore midfielder/forward Carolyn Polcari took a team-high two shots. Five additional players tallied one shot each for the Blazers.
Padilla, Laura Hogan and Alex Topp led Pacific with three shots each, followed by five Tigers with one shot apiece.
After allowing the first goal of the game, junior goalkeeper Kate Blankenship nabbed five saves throughout the remainder of the contest to earn the win for UAB. Jill Medigovich received the loss in goal for Pacific, allowing two goals on the night.
"This team's success is due to a team effort, which is evident with four players scoring their first goals of the season this weekend," said Harbin. "I felt confident throughout the match that our players would find a way to win. They put in a tremendous effort to come from behind late in the match.
"This is the third game this season where we've played a team that was more rested than us. Tonight, we did it with only one day of rest and following extremely long travel to Hawaii. I'm extremely proud of this team."
The Blazers will return to action on Thursday when they host cross-town foe Samford. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at West Campus Field.
All-Tournament Team
Ambree Ako, Hawai`i
Kylee Ah Choy, Pacific
Kate Blakenship, UAB
Rachel Domingo, Hawai`i
Angelica Figueroa, Pacific
Maricela Padilla, Pacific
Mari Punzal, Hawai`i
Ayana Russell, UAB
Natalie Wong, Pacific
Marie Yempuku, UAB (Most Valuable Player)
Allison Young, UAB
