NASHVILLE, TENN. – Alabama soccer battled back multiple times in the second half, but could not hold on as Vanderbilt rallied to win, 3-2, Thursday night at Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. The Tide fell 6-4-1, 0-2 on the season, while the Commodores improved to 9-1, 2-0.
The pace was back-and-forth for the first half with neither team finding the back of the net, until the 42nd minute Vanderbilt’s Olivia Simmons connected from over 20 yards out.
Vanderbilt carried its one-goal advantage into the second half, but Alabama got on the board in the 59th minute when sophomore Casey Wertz scored her sixth goal of the season to tie the game.
The 71st minute of the game proved to be eventful for both squads, starting when Vanderbilt’s Haley Hopkins took advantage of a fast break to tap in her shot into an open-faced net. The score did not remain 2-1 for long, because seconds later senior Emma Welch answered by scoring off a rebound, and tallying her second goal of the season.
The Commodores later took back the lead in the in the 83rd minute, when Leila Azari found Hopkins for her second goal of the game and extended their winning streak to nine in a row.
The Tide enjoyed all the high-quality chances in the second period, trying to find an equalizer as they outshot the Commodores 11-7; but could not find any daylight as it finished its road trip with a 0-2 conference record.
