Alabama Soccer Outlasted by Tennessee, 3-1

Sunday, October 11

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

5:00 p.m

Alabama

4-9-2

Tennessee

7-2-5

Tennessee

Alabama

Alabama Soccer Outlasted by Tennessee, 3-1

10/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team showed signs off a comeback on Sunday night at the Alabama Soccer Complex, but was ultimately defeated by the visiting Tennessee Volunteers by a final score of 3-1. Sophomore Molly Moroney scored her first career goal in the 76th minute to trim the Volunteers lead to 2-1, but Tennessee quickly answered to put the game out of reach at 3-1. With the loss, Alabama falls to 4-9-2, including a 1-6 mark in Southeastern Conference play.

"I thought we struggled early in the first half with connecting our passes and keeping possession," said head coach Wes Hart. "We switched up strategies at halftime and went with a more direct approach and while it wasn't the prettiest soccer, we proved to be more effective in our attack."

Tennessee took advantage of an early set piece opportunity in the 10th minute, as freshman Rylie O'Keefe struck a shot low and hard to net her first collegiate goal and stake the Volunteers to an early 1-0 lead.

The Volunteers moved ahead 2-0 at the 66:24 mark, as junior Anna McClung converted a cross from Mackenzie Gousner to register her fifth goal of the 2015 campaign.

Alabama would cut the deficit in half in the 77th minute, as Moroney recovered a blocked shot in front of the Tennessee net and tapped home her first collegiate goal to make the score 2-1. Earlier in the play, junior Celia Jimenez' free kick found sophomore Lacey Clarida who had her shot blocked right to Moroney.

"I'm extremely happy for Molly," said Hart. "She has provided a spark for us all season, and I was excited to see her efforts pay off with a goal tonight."

Following Moroney's goal, Tennessee was quick to answer. In the 86th minute, freshman Anna Bialczak headed home her third goal of the season off a corner kick from junior Emily Morrow.

In her return to the starting lineup, senior goalkeeper Emily Rusk matched her season high with seven saves between the posts, while Tennessee goalkeeper Julie Eckel recorded four saves in her seventh victory of the season.

Following this weekend's action, the Tide will travel to Athens, Ga. to face off against the Bulldogs on on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. The conference match will be broadcast live on SECN+.

Get all the latest information on the team by following AlabamaSoccer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.