Tiger Women’s Soccer Team Opens Season with Win Over Alabama-Birmingham

Aug. 22, 2008

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s soccer team opened the 2008 season with a 1-0 victory over Alabama-Birmingham on Friday night at Riggs Field. It was the first career win for first-year head coach Hershey Strosberg.

Freshman Tara Cort scored the game’s lone goal in the first half of play, also notching the first goal of her career. In the 28th minute, junior Molly Franklin played the ball across the front of the goal to Cort, who shot the ball into the net past the Blazer keeper from seven yards out.

Clemson sophomore Paula Pritzen earned her first career win in goal and recorded two saves in the contest. Kate Blankenship tallied six saves for UAB. Overall, the Tigers took nine shots in the game to the Blazers’ 10 and UAB had seven corner kick opportunities while Clemson had two.

“This game was a very good team effort,” said Strosberg following the game. “We are still young and trying to gain experience. In the second half I thought we made things more difficult than they needed to be. Still, the bottom line is that these girls fought tonight. They did what they needed to do and got the goal they needed to win.

“I was impressed with the play of our young back line and goalkeeper Molly Franklin also played well in the midfield. Of course we always count on the leadership of seniors Julie Bolt and Molly Johnson, and that was no different tonight.”

The Tigers will be back in action on Wednesday, August 27 as they play host to Presbyterian College. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at Riggs Field.

Game Summary Goals: Clemson – Cort (from Franklin) 27:24 Saves – Pritzen (CU) 2, Team (CU) 2, Blankenship (UAB) 6, Team (UAB) 1 Shots – Clemson 9, UAB 10 Corner Kicks – Clemson 2, UAB 6 Fouls – Clemson 7, UAB 5