University of Washington
Birmingham-Southern (First Round)
UW Women Win NCAA Tournament Soccer Opener
November 12, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 12, 2004
Nov. 12, 2004
15th-Ranked Huskies Register 5-0 Rout in NCAA Tournament Opener
AUBURN, Ala. -- Seniors Tina Frimpong and Nikki Gamble each scored two goals Friday as 15th-ranked Washington equaled its most convincing postseason victory ever with a 5-0 triumph over Birmingham-Southern in a first-round NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament game at AU Soccer Complex. Washington (15-4-1), the tournament's No. 15 seed, remains in Alabama to meet host Auburn, Sunday at noon Pacific Time in a second-round clash. The 22nd-ranked Tigers defeated Clemson 2-0 Friday. This is the Huskies' eighth NCAA Tournament appearance and the fifth time they advanced past the opening round.
Washington's longest foray into the playoffs was a Sweet 16 appearance in 2000. They defeated Montana in the second round by the same 5-0 margin they posted Friday over Big South Conference champion BSC (12-8-3).
The Huskies created several dangerous chances early, including a shot off the right post by Kim Taylor (Woodland Hills, Calif.) in the 22nd minute. Six minutes later Taylor helped the Huskies finally break through the packed-in Birmingham defense.
Taylor fired a 17-yard shot that was deflected by Panther goalkeeper Andria Gray. Frimpong (Vancouver, Wash./Hudson's Bay) collected the carom and pushed it inside the right post at 28:48.
The same two UW forwards combined for a second goal at 35:56. Taylor sent a long, low pass into the area. Frimpong slid and touched the ball just past Gray and inside the left post from seven yards away.
Frimpong, who was just announced as the Pac-10 Player of the Year for the second straight season, increased her school scoring record with her 41st career goal. She also added to her UW records with 94 points and 17 game-winning goals. Frimpong is the only repeat winner of the league's top honor as she shared 2003 Player of the Year honors with UCLA's Nandi Pryce.
UW went ahead 3-0 before halftime on Gamble's 42nd-minute goal. Senior Kelley Schweighart (Solana Beach, Calif.) streaked down the left flank and passed to freshman Katy Dowling (Laguna Beach, Calif.) at the goal line. Dowling sent the ball across the goalmouth and Gamble booted it into the ball surrounded by several defenders.
"I was happy to see us finish a few goals in the first half to sort of get the anxiety out," Husky coach Lesle Gallimore remarked. "I thought we came out in the second half and put it away early. We didn't leave any doubt."
Senior defender Nicole Martinez (Woodinville, Wash./Redmond) netted her first goal of the season off a corner kick in the 53rd minute. Freshman Colby Branham (Gig Harbor, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) served a ball into the box that Martinez emphatically headed in from 12 yards out.
Gamble capped the scoring with her 10th goal of the season. She received a pass from freshman Dana Stirn (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) and slid a shot toward goal that trickled inside the left post.
"I'm happy that we didn't have any kind of breakdown," Gallimore concluded. "We came out and dominated the game from the beginning to the end and made sure that we took care of business to get to the next round."
Gray was credited with six saves for the Panthers (12-8-3) who were outshot by a 19-8 margin.
Sophomore Kelsey Rasmussen (Gig Harbor, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) registered four saves for the Huskies who blanked their third straight opponent. Rasmussen has eight shutouts this season and 11 for her career.
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT -- 1st Round
(#15) Washington 5, Birmingham-Southern 0
AU Soccer Complex; Auburn, Ala.
Scoring
-- 1, UW, Tina Frimpong (Kim Taylor), 28:48. 2, Tina Frimpong (Kim Taylor), 35:56. 3, Nikki Gamble (Katy Dowling, Kelley Schweighart), 41:05. 4, UW, Nicole Martinez (Colby Branham), 52:34. 5, UW, Nikki Gamble (Dana Stirn), 53:48.Shots -- UW 19, BSC 8.
Saves -- UW 4 (Kelsey Rasmussen), BSC 6 (Andria Gray).
Corner Kicks -- UW 7, BSC 1.
Fouls --- UW 7, BSC 8.
Offsides -- UW 2, BSC 0.
Attendance -- n/a.
Records: Washington 15-4-1 Birmingham-Southern 12-8-3.
