By Zach Fidel Special to The Tuscaloosa News
University of Alabama soccer team defeated the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2-0, Sunday night in Tuscaloosa. This is the fourth shutout of the season for Alabama.
The Crimson Tide’s win streak of five games was snapped Friday night when it lost to third-ranked South Carolina.
Coach Wes Hart urges his team to take a shot on goal within the first five minutes of a game. He also wants his team to outshoot their opponent each half. The team executed Hart’s game plan effectively against Chattanooga.
Two minutes into the match, junior Emma Welch had the team’s first shot on goal. However, Welch’s shot soared wide right. Due to multiple injuries, Hart started senior Maddy Anzelc, who netted a goal early in the first half.
“It was amazing getting my first start of the season,” Anzelc said. “This was only my second collegiate goal.”
Later in the first half, senior captain Celia Jimenez Delgado stretched Alabama’s lead to 2-0 when she rocketed a 25-yard shot past the goalkeeper. The Crimson Tide outshot Chattanooga, 14-0, in the first half.
Despite missing players on defense, Alabama remained on lockdown mode all night. It held Chattanooga to only five shots the entire match. Goalkeeper Kat Stratton made two diving saves in the last 30 seconds to preserve the shutout for the Crimson Tide.
After suffering a 1-0 loss Friday night to South Carolina, Hart said his team responded well.
“I’m proud of the way the girls played tonight in terms of us getting the win, and we managed to finish the game without getting any injuries,” Hart said. “Sitting at 8-2 on the year, I think we’re exactly where we want to be.”
With the win over UT Chattanooga, Alabama finished their non-conference schedule with a record of 8-1, their best in program history. The Crimson Tide will host LSU Thursday at 7 p.m.
