Alabama
LSU
Alabama Soccer Defeats LSU in Overtime Thriller, 3-2
9/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 11, 2015
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team defeated the visiting LSU Tigers in thrilling fashion on Sunday night at the Alabama Soccer Complex, converting the game winner in the 102nd minute of the second overtime period. Junior transfer Celia Jimenez scored tonight's match-decider, heading home a corner kick from freshman Emma Welch to end the contest. With the victory, Alabama improves to 2-3-2, while tonight's loss marked the first of the season for the previously undefeated LSU Tigers (4-1-2).
"I'm extremely thrilled for this team tonight," said head coach Wes Hart. "Once again they showed tremendous mentality. I think sometimes as coaches we can get too caught up in tactics and tonight I told the girls to throw all of that out the window. I challenged them to just find a way to win and I'm extremely proud of the way they responded."
Alabama was relentless on offense the entire night, as the Crimson Tide produced a season-high 33 shots including 13 corner kicks. Sophomores Chatham DeProspo and Alexis Mouton scored the first two goals for the Tide, ahead of Jimenez's golden goal in the 102nd minute. DeProspo's and Jimenez's goals were each converted corner kicks from freshman Emma Welch.
"I challenged the girls tonight to do more," Hart added. "Goals are just not going to happen - we need to make them happen. I think we tripled our average number of shots-per-game and more than doubled our total goals for the season. I couldn't be more proud of the way the team responded against some extremely tough competition."
LSU struck first in the 21st minute of the opening half, as the Tiger's Summer Clarke drove a long distance shot from outside the box that found the top left corner of the Alabama net. The goal was the first score senior goalkeeper Emily Rusk has surrendered on her home turf since October 5, 2014.
The Tigers would remain in front until the 72nd minute when sophomore transfer DeProspo scored her first goal as a member of the Tide to deadlock the game at 1-1. DeProspo surged through a crowed box in front of the LSU net to head home Welch's corner kick.
Things got chippy in the latter minutes of the second period, as Alabama's Lacey Clarida was shown a yellow card ahead of LSU's Alex Arlitt's ejection in the 74th minute.
Despite LSU's one-player disadvantage, the Tigers still managed to net its second goal and pull ahead just six minutes after DeProspo's goal, as Jorian Baucom took advantage of a one-on-one with Rusk to put her team back ahead, 2-1.
Alabama refused to go quietly. With just under ten minutes remaining in the match, Mouton found herself in good position and scored her second goal of the season, sending a recovered deflection past the LSU keeper from far beyond the box to send the game to overtime.
"We erased two deficits tonight and that's a tremendous accomplishment," said Hart. "Alexis was huge for us tonight. She scored an incredible equalizer and caused all sorts of problems with her pace and ability to run at players."
After a scoreless first overtime period, Celia Jimenez provided tonight's heroics, sending home a corner kick from Welch for her first game-winner as a member of the Crimson Tide.
"I honestly can't even remember the goal," said Jimenez. "Once I saw the ball hit the net all I could think about was running to my teammates. Tonight was an incredible night and one that this team can build off of."
Alabama will be back in action on Sunday when it welcomes Southern Miss to the Alabama Soccer Complex for the second game of this season-long four game homestand. Opening kick between the Tide and Golden Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be available 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.
