TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --- In the end, it was an overtime penalty kick that gave the University of Alabama a 2-1 victory over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in women's soccer action Sunday afternoon at the Alabama Soccer Complex.
"They didn't beat us on the field today," Chattanooga head coach J.D. Kyzer said. "We were 1-1 at the end of regulation and it was a PK that won it for them. We're coming together and getting better every game. I'm very proud of the way this team is playing."
After fighting it out to a 1-1 draw, the game went into extra time. In the 98th minute, Chattanooga (1-4) was called for a foul in the box and Rosaly Petriello booted a penalty kick past UTC's freshman keeper Taylor Mangrum (Franklin, Tenn.) for the sudden victory and her second goal of the game.
Petriello snared the Tide's (3-1) first goal in the 38th minute firing to the near post from 25 yards out.
"Taylor commands the box," Kyzer said. "She played well and does a lot of coaching out of the box. She made one mistake. The only problem is that when the keeper makes a mistake, the other team usually scores."
Alabama got off five more shots in the late minutes of the first half with just one on goal and carried a 1-0 advantage into the half.
In the second half Chattanooga got off four shots to the Tide's two before UTC freshman Kerbi Towry netted her second goal of the season to knot the game at 1-1 in the 58th minute. Junior Donna-Kay Henry (Queens Village, N.Y.) sent a cross from the end line to a streaking Towry who picked up the pass at the far post for the equalizer.
"She was on wheels," Kyzer said. "She was flying and snuck in behind the defender."
The Tide outshot Chattanooga 33-9 with 11 shots on goal. Mangrum snared nine saves in the game playing the entire game in goal. Henry had three shots, all on goal, for the Lady Mocs with an assist while Towry had two shots and a goal. Senior Kelly Downs (Hixson, Tenn.) was able to get off two shots for the Lady Mocs with one on goal.
Chattanooga's defense held off the Alabama offense with junior Danielle Barr drawing the assignment of defending the Tide's top player Victoria Frederick.
"Danielle did a really good job of keeping [Frederick] outside. She is their fastest player and she was unable to get anything done because she couldn't get past Danielle. Our whole back line is amazing. Serena [Allen], Anna [Cusick] and Danielle as well as Tayler [Shelby] and Heather [Trumbo] worked together. They were very smooth, very solid."
The Lady Mocs will return to the pitch to defend their title at the Border Classic beginning Friday night in Boiling Springs, N.C., when they take on host Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m.
Scoring Summary
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists
1 38:01 UA Rosaly Petriello (2) unassisted
2 57:09 UTC Kerbi Towry (2) Donna-Kay Henry
3 97:25 UA Rosaly Petriello (3) penalty kick
