Alabama Soccer Denies Vanderbilt Revenge in Bounceback Win

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— On Sunday night, the No. 9 Alabama soccer team was in uncharted territory. Fresh off its first regular season loss since August of 2022, the Crimson Tide needed its first SEC win in the worst of ways. Thanks to a late-first half goal strung together by two defenders, that's exactly what took place in a slim 1-0 final. The Alabama Soccer Stadium's home unbeaten streak endured another day, and is now at 26 matches.

The Commodores haven't forgotten what happened the last time Alabama was on the schedule. In last season's SEC tournament, a foul with less than a minute on the clock resulted in a penalty kick that broke a 1-1 tie and doomed Darren Ambrose's squad. Ambrose wanted Sunday's match bad. He was one of the most vocal individuals on the pitch throughout the night. For Vanderbilt (6-2-3), revenge was not to be.

For Alabama, plenty was on the line. The status of being a reigning league champion going winless in its first three conference matches the following season is not one most teams wish to achieve. Reeling from a 5-0 defeat on Thursday against Arkansas, there were questions surrounding what the Crimson Tide's response would entail.

That response was shutting out an SEC opponent and moving back in the win column one day after the 2022 SEC title team was honored at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Head coach Wes Hart said he felt that celebration helped lift his team's spirits heading into Sunday.

"A great response, and exactly how we hoped and expected we would," Hart said. "I thought it was important that we go out and have a good performance. Moreso than anything, I just wanted us to compete and battle, and we did that... That gives up a lot of confidence going into the next one."

The opening half was a tale of chances. Both teams tried them. The early goal was an imperative, and it showed in how the squads played. Dylan Pixton got the start in net despite not appearing in any of the Crimson Tide's defeat in Fayetteville. She came up huge, especially in the first half. The back line rebounded from Thursday's showing by backing up Pixton's clean slate, her fourth blanking of the season. The Alabama that makes scoring goals a difficult endeavor made its return.

The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when a pair of defenders put the finishing touches on the game-winning goal. Sydney Japic set Marianna Annest up with a cross from the other side of the 18-yard box. Annest and Vanderbilt goalkeeper Kate Devine hit the deck, and Annest finished the job.

Midfielder Kate Henderson, who headed the strike in the air and put it in front of Annest, was also credited with an assist on the play.

"I don't think the belief in ourselves ever faltered," Annest said. "One result doesn't define us at all."

"It [the assist] was kind of instinctive," Japic said, adding that she had no doubt someone would score if she set them up. "I know my teammates."

That score proved to be the dagger. A more aggressive Crimson Tide stifled the Commodores in the latter half of the match. Despite being urged on by those clad in gold from the stands, Vanderbilt sustained very little in the second half. Alabama didn't put another one into the net, but did enough defensively to close out the visitors. Ambrose's intensity, it seemed, was for naught.

"Good things are gonna happen if we get in the box. Syd put in a great ball, Hendo got an awesome little touch on it that dropped it right behind their back line, and I was able to just, I don't really know how, get that first step, get behind them, and kinda slide for that last touch," said Annest.

One major question mark was the health of superstar forward Gianna Paul, who rolled her ankle in the second half of Thursday's loss. She played Sunday. Hart said he wasn't sure if Paul was going to go, and her late substitution into the match was not an attempt to be sneaky. The foul that cost the Commodores their SEC tournament title bid last year was on Paul.

"I thought the team responded great," Hart said. "I thought we played some of our best soccer in terms of, we created some very good looks, got some good spells of possession in our attacking half and grinded out a win."

Alabama (7-1-4) answered Sunday's opportunity with a statement. It was important not only to work in some offense, but to get the defense back on the right track. All phases took to the challenge with great energy. That energy was enhanced by the brand-new anthracite kits the Crimson Tide debuted against Vanderbilt.

"I love them," Japic said. "1-0 in the gray. I think they're good luck. I think they're sleek. I love them, personally."

Hart emphasized focusing on the next match in a similar manner to how his team focused on Sunday's contest. That match is a rare Friday clash in the regular season, against Kentucky. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on the road on Sept. 29.

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