Alabama Soccer Defeats Jacksonville State, 2-0

Sunday, September 20

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7:00 p.m

Alabama

4-4-2

Jacksonville State

3-5-0

Jacksonville State

Alabama

Alabama Soccer Defeats Jacksonville State, 2-0

9/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama soccer team capped its season-long, four-match homestand with a 2-0 victory over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Sunday night at the Alabama Soccer Complex. Junior midfielder Celia Jimenez scored a pair of first-half goals, while goalkeepers Emily Rusk and Kat Stratton combined to keep the Gamecocks off the board. With the win, Alabama improves to 4-4-2, while Jacksonville State falls to 3-5.

Alabama dominated the offensive attack from start to finish, firing off a season-high 38 shots, including 12 shots on goal. The 38 shots were just two short of the 5th-highest single-game shot total in the history of the Alabama women's soccer program.

"I'm very happy with tonight's performance," said head coach Wes Hart. "I thought it was a great response after Friday night's loss to Kentucky. I obviously would have liked to see more balls find the back of the net, but I'm pleased with the number of quality chances we were able to create."

Jimenez notched the Crimson Tide's first multi-goal performance of the 2015 season, scoring tonight's only goals in the 13th and 41st minutes of the opening half. At the 12:30 mark, freshman Emma Welch found an open Jimenez who converted a long cross to stake Alabama to an early 1-0 lead. Welch's assist was her team-leading fourth of the season.

"Scoring the early goal took some pressure off of the girls and gave the team a lot of confidence," Hart said. "We were able to settle down early and I think that helped with our execution."

With just over four minutes remaining in the opening half, Jimenez found herself in the right place at the right time, recovering and tapping home a deflection to put the Tide ahead, 2-0. Sophomore Molly Moroney fired a long shot earlier in the possession that got away from the Gamecocks goalkeeper and found its way to Jimenez.

The Tide's stout defense limited the Gamecocks to six total shots - just three on goal - as goalkeepers Emily Rusk and Kat Stratton each logged a scoreless half between the posts to preserve the shutout.

Alabama had a pair of true freshman and one redshirt freshman make their Crimson Tide debuts in tonight's win, as Catherine Jorgensen, Cecily Hartman and Taylor Hartrampf each appeared in their first collegiate action.

"I was able to get a lot of players some meaningful playing time tonight and I'm extremely happy with how well everyone responded," said Hart. "I thought the three players who got their first minutes of the season played awesome."

Alabama will now head to Oxford, Miss., and Columbia, S.C., for a pair of road conference matches next weekend. Friday's match at Ole Miss will begin at 7 p.m. CT, ahead of Sunday's match at South Carolina at 5 p.m. CT. Both matches will be available on SECN+.

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