Since joining the Alabama soccer team as a transfer from Ball State, forward Abbie Boswell has been a terror for opposing defenses, totaling 15 goals in the two years, which led the team both years.
“She wants the ball, she wants to score and she believes every time she shoots that she’s going to score,” coach Wes Hart said. “The great thing about Abbie is that she’s full of confidence and her shots are going to fall.”
Three of her eight goals last year were game winners. Her most recent game-winner came against Missouri on Oct. 22.
“Abbie can pull a game winner out of her back pocket whenever,” forward Chloe Maize said. “She’s a super special player, and someone that I really won’t forget playing with.”
The left-footed forward isn’t afraid of pulling the trigger and letting a shot fly. She put up 105 shots the last two years, and already has 20 shots in 2018. She has one goal so far this year, which came against North Texas. The 18-yard shot forced a draw.
Her shots have gotten better as she has gained more experience. Her shot-on-goal percentage has increased every year from 40 percent to what it is so far this year 60 percent.
Alongside being a scoring threat, Boswell has been able to set up her teammates. In her first year in an Alabama uniform, she finished with seven assists, which is tied for fourth in program history for a single season.
“I think she’s getting a lot better at using players around her,” Hart said. “I think when she got here, I don’t think it was a lack of trust or a lack of awareness, she would get it and just put her head down and just want to do it all herself. I was really pleased with last game (in Alabama’s 6-0 win over Kennesaw State), with the amount of times she picked her head up.”
Alabama continues its six-game homestand with a matchup against Virginia Tech. The Hokies are 2-0-2 heading into the Thursday night matchup in Tuscaloosa.
“We faced them, in my two years at Florida State, probably four times,” Hart said. “Obviously players have come and gone, but what I’ve seen on video their system is still the same. The way they play, in terms of they’re physical, they’re hard. They work. They’re athletic.”
Freshman Karlie Johnson leads the Hokies in scoring with two goals, and keeper Mandy McGlynn has 15 saves so far this season.
After the matchup against Virginia Tech, the Crimson Tide hosts Rice. The Owls are 1-2 this year, but the one win came on the road. True freshman keeper Bella Killgore is coming off her best game, saving seven shots against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
