BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –Nadine Liverpool’s first goal of the season at the 76:33 mark lifted UAB to a 2-1 win over Vanderbilt Friday night at West Campus Field.
Liverpool scored off an assist from Jill Porto to give the Blazers a 2-1 lead that they held onto despite three late shots by the Commodores in the final 10 minutes.
UAB improved to 2-0-1 on the year, while Vanderbilt suffered its first loss of the year to drop to 1-1-1.
The Blazers took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Sally Palmer scored off a free kick at the 13:20 mark. UAB took the lead into halftime despite the Commodores holding a 10-6 shot advantage.
VU came out firing in the second half and tied the game at the 53:21 mark when sophomore Megan Forester scored her first career goal off of assists from freshman Taylour Claxton and Meredith Kohn.
The Commodores again held a decided shot advantage, 11-4, in the second half.
After the Blazers took the lead VU had three chances to tie the game up in the final 10 minutes. Meredith Kohn had a shot that was saved by Blazer keeper Kate Blankenship at the 80:50 mark and Megan Forester had a shot that was saved by Blankenship at the 85:08 mark.
Freshman Molly Kinsella’s had the last shot attempt for the Commodores in the 87th minute and it was blocked to preserve the win for UAB.
Forester and Kinsella led VU with five shots each while Kohn added three of her own.
The two UAB goals were the first Vanderbilt and keeper Rachel Bachtel had given up all season. She ended up with three saves on the night.
Blankenship recorded seven saves for UAB while also giving up her first goal in three games this year.
The Commodores will be back in action on Sunday as Tennessee Tech comes to town for the regular season home opener at 2 p.m. at the VU Soccer Complex.
