Sept. 15, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Massachusetts women's soccer team lost its fifth consecutive game to start the season, 5-1, to the University of Alabama-Birmingham this afternoon in the final round of the UAB Nike Classic.

Down, 2-0 in the first half, freshman Adair Blyler (Lexington, Mass.) scored an unassisted goal in the 37th minute to cut the Blazers lead to one heading into halftime. The score was the first career point for Blyler.

UAB regained the momentum when Jessica Samulski scored just 1:07 into the second half, making the score 3-1. The Blazers then added two more goals en route to the 5-1 win.

Tara Kidwell scored both UAB goals in the first half as the Minutewomen were outshot 8-2 in the frame and 25-4 in the game. Massachusetts has now been outshot 162-50 this season.

In the net, junior co-captain Kelly Nigh (Seattle, Wash.) made 10 saves for the Minutewomen, while freshman Kristen Rutland (Fayetteville, Ga.) stopped two shots in her first collegiate action.

Nigh and senior Martha Conover (Liverpool, N.Y.) were each named to the 2002 UAB Nike Classic All-Tournament Team. Jenny Rynders of UAB was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Massachusetts returns to action Friday, Sept. 20, when it hosts the UMass Soccer Classic at Rudd Field. Rhode Island will battle Auburn at 2:00 p.m., while the Minutewomen will play Iowa State at 4:00 p.m.

Scoring: First Half - UAB, Tara Kidwell (Melissa Sherrell) 21:58; UAB, Tara Kidwell (Briana McCarty) 33:34; UM, Adair Blyler (unassisted) 37:30. Second Half - UAB, Jessica Samulski (unassisted) 46:07; UAB, Jill Knottek (Liz Bosscher) 64:05; UAB, Cindy Penaranda (unassisted) 88:34.

Saves: Massachusetts - Kelly Nigh 10 (87:05), Kristen Rutland 2 (2:55); UAB - Lisa Nowoslawski 1 (90:00).

Attendance: 453.