ORANGE BEACH – The Alabama soccer team came up short to the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, 2-1, at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. This was Alabama’s fourth appearance in the Quarterfinals, with the last time being in 2011.
Vanderbilt was the first squad to get on the board in the 12th minute with a goal by Haley Hopkins. Alabama fired off four shots and earned one corner kick opportunity but could not find the back of the net during the first half.
In the second half, the Commodores increased their lead to two in the 74th minute with another goal by Hopkins. Senior defender Nealy Martin scored her third goal of the season with a header in the 83rd minute off of a corner kick by freshman Serena Pham, putting the Tide on the board late. Despite the tough battle, the Tide could not ultimately complete the comeback.
The Crimson Tide outshot the Commodores, 10-8, with three on frame. Nealy Martin led the team with three shots and had three more corner kicks than Vanderbilt (6-3).
