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Alabama Soccer Ties LSU, 0-0, Sunday Afternoon
10/23/2016 5:21:00 PM | Soccer
BATON ROUGE, La. –The Alabama soccer team tied the LSU Tigers, 0-0, in a match that was decided in double overtime on Sunday afternoon at the LSU Soccer Stadium. With the tie and a Georgia loss today, the Tide clinches a berth to the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., which is set to start on Monday, Oct. 31.
The last time the Tide went to the SEC Tournament was the 2014 season. The Crimson Tide's overall record moves to 8-7-2 including a 3-5-2 mark in league play.
In the first half the Tide relied on its athletic junior goalkeeper Kat Stratton, as she collected four crucial saves in the half. In the eighth minute, Stratton left her spot between the posts to come up with a huge save. Three minutes later she came up with spectacular save marking her second of the half. In the 13th minute, sophomore Emma Welch took back-to-back corner kicks but the Tide was unable to convert. At the 17:24 minute mark, sophomore Tori Gann registered Alabama's first shot but it was blocked by a LSU defender. Four minutes later, Stratton picked up her third save as she came out of the net to make another terrific play. In the 23rd minute, freshman Logue Shamburger registered Alabama's first shot on goal but the Tigers' goalkeeper came up with the save. Six minutes later, Stratton tallied her fourth and final save of the half. Alabama showed its strong defensive presence in the 33rd minute as senior Jordan Meier blocked a tough LSU shot before it got to Stratton. With two minutes to go in the first half, junior Chatham DeProspo tallied Alabama's second shot on goal from about 25 yards out but the LSU keeper collected a save. The Tide tallied three shots, two shots on goal and four corner kicks in the first half. Both teams entered halftime scoreless.
The narrative remained the same in the second half, as both teams battled for a goal but were unable to convert after multiple offensive attacks. Welch took the Tide's first shot of the half in the 47th minute but it went just high. Three minutes later, Alabama took back-to-back corner kicks but was unable to convert as DeProspo's lone shot went high. Sophomore Abbie Boswell took a shot from six yards out that went high in the 56th minute, before Welch took an attempt from 25 yards out that would have went in if the LSU keeper didn't come up with the save. Four minutes past the hour mark, Boswell created space to take a shot from about 10 yards out but the Tigers goalkeeper was able to make a play on the ball. In the 68th minute, Boswell took a shot from the top of the box but it was blocked by a LSU defender. Sophomore Kayla Mouton came up with a huge block from five yards out to prevent a LSU goal in the 79th minute. Alabama did a phenomenal job winning the majority of headers, which in turn cut off LSU's opportunities to score. In the final 15 minutes of regulation, the Tide made some effective offensive attacks but was unable to find the back of the net. Shamburger took a shot at the 86:28 minute mark but it was blocked by an LSU defender, before junior Hailey Brohaugh took a final shot attempt in the 89th minute which ended up being blocked as well. Alabama tallied eight shots and five corner kicks in the half. The Tide's defense was superb, as Stratton didn't have to collect a save in the second half.
Stratton came up with another sporty save three minutes into the first overtime, before senior Caroline Alexander delivered arguably the biggest team save two minutes later to prevent a LSU goal. In the 96th minute, Stratton recorded another save and LSU had a corner kick that they were unable to convert on. In the 99th minute, Stratton jumped up to punch the ball out on another Tigers corner kick. The Tide was unable to get a shot or corner kick in the first overtime, but Stratton was solid between posts delivering two more saves.
At the 102:43 minute mark in the second overtime, senior Auburn Mercer took a header that went just high off a cross from Brohaugh. Four minutes later, DeProspo took the Tide's final shot of the contest from the top of the box but it was blocked by a Tigers defender. Neither team was able to convert in the final four minutes of the second overtime, which resulted in a draw between the two teams.
The match marks the second double overtime contest for the Tide this season, and it's the second draw Alabama has had this year. Moreover, it marks the third consecutive contest against the Tigers that was decided in double overtime, and it's the fifth straight match in which the two have play each other in extra minutes.
Alabama recorded 13 shots, four shots on goal and nine corner kicks in the hour and fifty minute affair. Stratton collected six saves, and her overall record between the posts moves to 8-7-2 including a 3-5-2 mark in league play.
The Tide will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 27, when it hosts Vanderbilt in the final regular season match at the Alabama Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. CT.
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.
