Alabama Advances! Tops Duke 3-2 For First-Ever College Cup
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It wasn't a stretch to call this the biggest game in Alabama soccer history.
At least until next week.
An overtime goal by Reyna Reyes was the difference Friday night as Alabama edged Duke 3-2 to advance to the College Cup, the final four of women's soccer in Cary, N.C.
“A lot of firsts, right," Alabama coach Wes Hart said. "First time we won a round of 32, and then a round of 16, and now a round of eight and now we’re going to the round of four.
"There have been so many firsts this year and (I’m) just so incredibly proud of this team. Every coach out there feels like their team deserves it, but it couldn't happen to a better group of young women. They’re a class act on and off the field, and they’ve been through so much over the last few years. I've said this many times, that this is not an overnight success story. We didn't just wake up one day and we were good. We put the work into it, and it is so awesome that we are being rewarded.”
It was a classic between the Crimson Tide and the Blue Devils, as extra time was needed in the elimination game. Alabama started in a high press, which made the Blue Devil backline uncomfortable. It was also evident that Alabama was playing with a little more energy knowing what's at stake.
Alabama produced several opportunities in the first half, but after nine shots and three corner kicks, the offense came up empty-handed thanks to Duke goaltender Ruthie Jones earning four saves.
The second half was when both teams picked it up offensively as Duke and Alabama combined for 16 shots after the break (they combined for 12 in the first), and Alabama had 11 of its 15 corners.
It wasn't until the 68th minute that Gianna Paul, who missed on a big scoring opportunity earlier in the game, buried a shot to give Alabama a 1-0 lead.
Exactly 10 minutes later, Riley Tanner crossed the ball into the box, where Ashlynn Serepca used her head (literally) to make the score 2-0 Alabama.
However, the Blue Devils did anything but fold, and in the 76th minute, forward Michelle Cooper got behind the defense to score her 18th goal of the season and cut the lead in half.
Cooper didn't wait to follow it up as she again got behind the defense (on what looked like an offsides that wasn't called) and tied it up 2-2 before regulation ended.
Going into overtime, both teams continued the offensive attack, but in the 98th minute, a deflection lands at the foot of Reyna Reyes, and she scored what would be the game-winning goal for Alabama.
It will be Alabama's first time in the College Cup, and now Wes Hart and his team will await its opponent — the winner of UCLA and Virginia. The semifinal match will be played next Friday at a time to be determined, with the championship set for Dec. 5.
The other quarterfinals will be played Saturday (all times CT):
- No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 3 Arkansas | Saturday, 4 p.m.
- No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 North Carolina | Saturday, 5 p.m.
- No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 3 Virginia | Saturday, 8 p.m.
FINAL - Alabama 3, Duke 2
Second Overtime
- Yellow card given to Kat Rogers
- Shot from Maggie Graham saved by McKinley Crone
- Felicia Knox comes in for Ashlynn Serepca
First Overtime - Alabama 3, Duke 2
- GOAL: Reyna Reyes buries the shot in the corner off the deflection. Alabama 3, Duke 2
- Paul's shot was deflected over the crossbar by Jones. Corner kick Alabama
- Paul's shot is saved by Jones
- Kat Rogers comes in for Felicia Knox
- Rader's shot is blocked by Crone over the crossbar. Corner kick Duke
- Gianna Paul is on the field to begin overtime
End of Regulation - Alabama 2, Duke 2
Second Half
- 14th corner kick for Alabama ends in a Duke goal kick
- Alabama gets its 13th corner kick of the game
- Yellow card given to Duke's Elle Piper
- Corner kick Alabama. Gianna Paul gets a yellow card
- Riley Tanner returns for Kat Rogers
- GOAL: Michelle Cooper scores her second goal of the game. Alabama 2, Duke 2
- Serepca's shot in front of the goal sails over the crossbar. Goal kick Duke
- Corner kick Alabama
- GOAL: Michelle Cooper puts the ball in the bottom left corner. Alabama 2, Duke 1
- Serepca is rewarded with a breather as Knox returns to the field.
- GOAL: Ashlynn Serepca heads in a cross from Riley Tanner at the 72nd minute. Alabama 2, Duke 0
- Cross into the box goes long for Duke. Rogers returns for Felicia Knox as Alabama prepares for a goal kick.
- GOAL: Gianna Paul scores off of a deflection in the 68th minute. Alabama 1, Duke 0
- Alabama earns its ninth and 10th corners of the game
- Goal kick Duke
- A Duke deflection leads to another corner from the opposite side
- Corner kick Alabama
- Gianna Paul comes in for Kat Rogers
- Parker's shot deflected, then saved, by Duke's Ruthie Jones
- Clock stopped to briefly attend to a Duke player
- Alabama earns another corner
- Parker's shot is wide of the net. Goal kick Duke
- Alabama earns a corner kick
- Duke called for offside
- Duke's shot is right of the post. Goal kick Alabama
- Alabama earns its first corner of the second half
First Half - Alabama 0, Duke 0
- Syndey Vincens comes in for Riley Mattingly Parker
- Crone saves a strike from Duke's Kat Rader
- Shot by Duke's Devin Lynch sails wide. Goal kick Alabama
- Marianna Annest comes in for Kat Rogers
- Cross is saved by Jones
- Alabama earns another corner kick
- Duke earns its first corner kick of the game
- Clem's header goes out of bounds
- Aislin Streicek comes in for Riley Tanner as Alabama earns a corner kick
- Rogers' shot sails over the net
- Sasha Pickard gets a yellow card
- Paul's break is stopped by Jones after Paul tried to dribble past her
- Gianna Paul comes in for Ashlynn Serepca
- Crone corrals the ball after it bounces around in the box
- Alabama almost scored, but the ball was saved after bouncing around the box by Jones
- Duke's Delaney Graham earns a yellow card after tackling Riley Tanner on a break
- Clock stops as Duke's Michelle Cooper is slow to get up
- Duke's first shot is saved by McKinley Crone, cleared by Rogers
- Ashlynn Serepca's shot is saved by Jones
- Clock stops after some confusion on possession. After it was cleared, free kick Alabama
- Felicia Knox's header is wide of the goalpost
- The Blue Devil's first scoring opportunity was cleared by the Alabama defense
- Duke's Sophie Jones earns a yellow card
- Kat Rogers' shot on goal was saved by Jones
- Macy Clem's cross into the box is saved by Duke's Ruthie Jones
- Alabama earns its first corner of the game
- Alabama comes out noticeably aggressive against the Blue Devils
Pregame
- Two starters and several reserves took a knee during the national anthem
- Both teams reach midfield as the starters get prepared to be introduced
- Alabama has returned to the field in full uniform with about 12 minutes until kickoff
- Alabama has exited the field and returned to the locker room after completing its initial warm up
- Both teams are warming up on their respective halves of the field.
Officials for the game:
Referee - Alyssa Nichols
Assistant Referee - Jarred Moasher
Assistant Referee - Kevin Huet
Alternate Official - Laith Dahhan
