Alabama Soccer Falls to Tennessee Tech, 2-1

Sunday, August 30

Cookeville, Tenn.

7:00 p.m

Alabama

1-2-1

Tennessee Tech

1-3-0

Alabama

Tennessee Tech

Alabama Soccer Falls to Tennessee Tech, 2-1

8/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Alabama soccer team was defeated by the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles by a final score of 2-1 on Sunday night at Tech Soccer Field. Alabama junior Celia Jimenez scored her first career goal for the Crimson Tide to tie the game at 1-1 in the 53rd minute, but the Golden Eagles answered with 27 minutes to play and held on for the 2-1 victory. With the loss, Alabama falls to 1-2-1, while the Golden Eagles improve to 1-3-0.

"We got off to a slow start, but we played ourselves right back into the game," said head coach Wes Hart. "I love the mentality of this team. We did some good things in the second half. We created enough to win the game, but we made some mistakes and were unable to capitalize at crucial points. Credit to Tennessee Tech."

Tennessee Tech jumped out to an early 1-0 lead at the 16:37 mark when Mary Francis Hoot converted a cross pass from Taylor Blazei from a corner that the Tide was unable to clear. Hoot received a through-ball to put her one-on-one with Alabama goalkeeper Kat Stratton and the attacker slipped it into the corner of the net to put the Golden Eagles ahead. Stratton was one of three Crimson Tide players making their first start of the 2015 season.

"I made a lot of changes to the starting lineup so perhaps that disrupted things a bit, but I think I would do it again," said Hart. "It's a long season and we can't ride the same 11 for the entire year. I'm confident in the lineup that I put out there and I know they are more than capable of getting the job done."

Alabama had a pair of chances at the end of the first half as Hailey Brohaugh and Chatham DeProspo combined for back-to-back scoring opportunities. Brohaugh had a shot blocked by a Golden Eagle defender that bounced to the feet of Chatham DeProspo who decided to try her luck from distance, but the shot went wide to keep the game at 1-0 going into the break.

The Crimson Tide wasted no time in the second half, knotting the score at 1-1 just eight minutes into the period. Junior transfer Celia Jimenez scored her first career goal as a member of the Tide off a corner kick from freshman Emma Welch.

The Golden Eagles moved ahead for good at the 62:40 mark, creating an opportunity on an unusual play in front of the Alabama goal. Stratton received a routine pass in front of the Alabama goal, but Tennessee Tech's Zoie Hensley stripped the ball and quickly found Taylor Sutton who found the back of a wide open net.

Alabama outshot Tennessee Tech, 18-6, including 14-2 in the second half, but was unable to break through a tough Golden Eagles defense. Tennessee Tech's goal in the opening half was the first goal Alabama had allowed since the first half of the team's season opener at Memphis. Alabama entered tonight's game on the heels of back-to-back shutouts vs. Troy and Wake Forest.

"Tennessee Tech came out with a lot of energy and spirit and did enough to win the game," said Hart. "We will let this one sting for a day and then we'll move on. We are looking forward to getting back to work on Tuesday and preparing for Harvard."

The opening week of September features the Crimson Tide's longest road trip of the season, as the Tide will head to the Northeast to square off against Harvard and Rhode Island. Alabama and Harvard will face off in Cambridge, Mass. on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. CT ahead of Sunday's 6 p.m. CT affair at Rhode Island.

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.