Alabama Soccer Tops Murray State, 4-2, In Late Second Half Push

Sunday, August 21

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6:00 p.m.

Alabama

2-0-0

Murray State

0-1-0

Murray

Alabama

Alabama Soccer Tops Murray State, 4-2, In Late Second Half Push

8/21/2016 9:49:00 PM | Soccer

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Junior forward Lacey Clarida scored a pair of goals, while sophomore Abbie Boswell added a goal and an assist to lift the Alabama soccer team past the Murray State Racers, 4-2, on Sunday night at the Alabama Soccer Complex. The Crimson Tide registered all four of its goals in the second half, and it featured multiple goal scorers for the second time this season.

With the win, Alabama improves to an overall 2-0 record, marking the first time since the 2012 season the Tide has recorded victories in each of its first two matches to begin a season. Moreover, following the 5-0 win vs. Sam Houston State on Friday night, Alabama has scored nine goals in its two contests which is the most goals to begin a campaign since scoring 11 goals to start the 2004 season (defeated Alabama A&M 7-0 followed a 4-0 win vs. Birmingham Southern).

"I am thrilled with the result, but a bit disappointed with how we started the game," said head coach Wes Hart. "We lacked energy and fight in the first half. You can throw tactics out the window. If you don't bring life to the game and you are not prepared to do the work, then tactics and skill don't mater. I could not be more pleased with our response in the second half. We came out and were aggressive from the opening kickoff. We did not play frantic, but we were urgent. Our fitness and our mental toughness showed tonight. It sounds so cliché, but we need to play the entire game the way we did in the second half. If we can learn to do that then we will win a lot of games this year.

The Tide trailed 2-0 entering the second half, but that didn't stop the offensive explosion that was to come. Four minutes into the second half, in the 49^th minute, Clarida scored the first of her two goals when she converted from 12-yards out off a pass from junior Chatham DeProspo to reduce the Racers lead to 2-1.

Alabama continued to press the offensive attack and was able to equalize at the 72:29 minute mark, as freshman Logue Shamburger created her own shot to tie the score at 2-2, picking up her first career goal with the Tide.

The offensive momentum continued just seven minutes later, as Clarida recorded her second goal of the game from 10-yards out in the 79^th minute off a pass from Boswell to give the Tide a 3-2 lead. Boswell went on to deliver the dagger for the Tide, as she registered her first career goal at Alabama at the 82:03 minute mark to result in the final score.

The Tide outshot the Racers (0-1) by a 12-9 margin in the first half, but it Murray State made the most of its chances with a pair of goals to take a 2-0 lead at intermission.

However, Alabama had a 14-3 edge in shots in the final 45 minutes to result in a 26-12 advantage in total shots, including a 10-7 lead in shots on goal. The Tide also held a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.

Junior Kat Stratton recorded four saves on the night and she improves to 2-0 overall between the posts.

The Crimson Tide will remain home at the Alabama Soccer Complex for its next match, as it hosts the Campbell Camels on Friday, Aug. 26, 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.