Alabama Soccer Tops UAB with Back-to-Back Second Half Goals, 2-0

The Crimson Tide entered its match to UAB in hopes of ending its losing streak, and that was accomplished within the same minute early in the second half.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nothing much was going for Alabama, minus the usual, in its Sunday night matchup to UAB. The combination of a low conversion rate in front of goal and an inability to create in different ways in attack, the two areas that had plagued the Crimson Tide during its three-game losing streak, were once again present early on tonight.

But the matchup would shift in its favor after a while.

"Having lost a few games in a row, it's hard to stay confident and believe in what you're doing without the results to validate it," Alabama coach Wes Hart said. "Without those wins it's hard to keep telling players, 'Hey, what we're doing is working.'"

Cashing in, or not, had been the difference in Alabama's trend entering its match to UAB with a 3-4 record, and it took a while before the issue was, even if temporarily, remedied at the Blazers' expense. 

"I think it was important that we got a win just to keep our heads up." Hart said.

Midfielder Reyna Reyes controlled the pace, the attack, and the possession of Alabama for the most part, per usual, but it was up to others to step forward and initiate things in other ways.

And that they did.

Entering halftime, neither team had scored and the Crimson Tide held an eight-to-four shots advantage at the break. But there wasn't anything to show for it until just after the second half began, when Alabama defender Tanna Caretto-Sanchez finished a shot assisted by midfielder Felicia Knox to give the Tide its first advantage in days. 

That was in the 49th minute and, literally, 30 seconds later Alabama would score again to all but do it and seal the win.

Unassisted, Virginia transfer and Crimson Tide forward Ashlynn Serepca hammered in the second goal of the night, and in quick succession, from just inside the box to complete a momentum-grabbing sequence. 

"It's going to make the mood a lot better," Hart said. "We're a damn good team from 18 [yard box] to 18 [yard box], and tonight we were able to finally finish those opportunities in the box."

After that, it was all about controlling possession, as it usually does, for Alabama to finish off the UAB Blazers. 

"We need to keep being aggressive and keep attacking without getting exposed in the back." Hart said. "And continuing the box play will be huge going forward."

The Crimson Tide finished the night with 16 total shots, six of which on target, while UAB tallied 10 shots and three on goal. After its win tonight, Alabama improves to 4-4 on the season and begins SEC play Thursday on the road to Ole Miss. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.