Alabama Soccer Falls 2-1 to Vanderbilt in Quarterfinals of SEC Tournament

Crimson Tide scores late but fails to find equalizer in 2-1 defeat to Commodores.

The Alabama soccer team fell 2-1 to Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. 

Alabama will find out on Monday if the team will be making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The first round begins on Nov. 15. 

“Congrats to Vanderbilt for their win today,” Crimson Tide coach Wes Hart said in a release. “They are a good team. They are stingy defensively and do not give you many looks. Combine that with some very athletic attackers and it wouldn’t surprise me if they made a deep run postseason.”

Vanderbilt grabbed an early lead through Haley Hopkins’s effort in the 12th minute. 

The Crimson Tide responded well, constructing chances which led to four shots and one corner kick as it fought for an equalizer. 

However, the Commodores entered the break with the 1-0 lead.

Vanderbilt added its second in the 74th minute with yet another effort by Hopkins. 

The Crimson Tide found an answer through Nealy Martin who headed home her effort in the 83rd minute via a corner kick from Serena Pham. The late goal proved to be a consolation as the Crimson Tide failed to find its equalizing goal.

Alabama outshot Vanderbilt 10-8, with three shots on goal. Alabama also held a 6-3 advantage on corner kicks taken. 

Freshman goalkeeper AJ Crooks collected two saves.

This was Alabama’s fourth appearance in the quarterfinals, with the last appearance coming in 2011.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team, not just for the effort and fight today, but for what we’ve done all season long,” Hart said. “We’ve grown a tremendous amount in the last year and all signs point to a bright future for this program. 

"We will wait and see if the NCAA selection committee thinks we’ve done enough to earn a bid to the tournament. There’s not a doubt in my mind that we are good enough to be there.”