Alabama Soccer Defeats Kennesaw State, 3-1, in Georgia

Thursday, September 7

Kennesaw, Ga.

6 p.m. CT

Alabama

6-1-0

Kennesaw State

4-1-2

Alabama

Kennesaw State

Alabama Soccer Defeats Kennesaw State, 3-1, in Georgia

9/7/2017 9:13:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Tide picks up its sixth win of the season, thanks to goals by Boswell, Morgan and Maize

KENNESAW, Ga. – Despite a late rally by Kennesaw State, No. 22 Alabama women's soccer topped the Owls, 3-1, Thursday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. Abbie Boswell, Taylor Morgan and Chloe Maize all scored one goal apiece to push Alabama past the ASUN foe to pick up the Tide's sixth win of the season.

"I am pleased with the result of the game," coach Wes Hart said. "Anytime you can go on the road and win, especially against a team that was undefeated with four wins and two draws, is very good. Kennesaw State has been stingy defensively, only allowing a couple of goals with four shutouts in a row. For us to go into Kennesaw State and score three goals and create a bunch of other chances, I leave here feeling very good."

Alabama (6-1) did not take long to strike the board, scoring in the first two minutes of the match thanks to Boswell's third goal of the season. Less than fifteen minutes later, Morgan notched her third goal of the season to extend the Tide's lead to 2-0 to end the half. Then in the second stanza, redshirt freshman Chloe Maize netted the first goal of her career in the 47th minute to put Alabama up by three.

With five minutes left on the clock, Kennesaw State (4-1-2) avoided a shutout, scoring a goal in the 85th minute, but the Tide's two-goal cushion was too much to overcome.

Alabama charged out of the gates hot, tallying the first goal after KSU kicked the ball out-of-bounds on the right-wing in the second minute. Kaley Verpaele tossed the ball to Boswell who launched the shot into the top left corner of the net.

In the 16th minute, Alabama extended its lead to 2-0 thanks to a goal by Morgan. Celia Jimenez Delgado chipped a cross pass up in the air that was headed by Welch in the direction of Morgan for the tally.

For the rest of the half, Alabama continued to apply intense pressure on the net with multiple shots towards the frame, but nothing fell through.

In the second half, the Tide came out rolling, scoring the third goal of the match in the 47th minute off the foot of Maize. Welch charged inside the box and found Maize who fired the ball into the left corner for the 3-0 advantage.

Alabama continued to dominate the match, keeping the ball on KSU's side of the pitch for the rest of the second half until KSU escaped a potential shutout, scoring a goal with five minutes left on the clock.

Eager to score another goal, the home team challenged the Tide's defense with a breakaway play and a corner, but Alabama held off KSU's offensive outbursts to take the match, 3-1.

The Crimson Tide overwhelmed KSU's keeper with 18 shots and nine shots on goal to defeat the Owls for the fourth consecutive time in series history and give Kennesaw State its first loss of the year.

At net, Kat Stratton registered her sixth win of the season saving three shots on goal in 90:00 minutes.

Alabama returns to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. CT to face Tennessee Tech in Tuscaloosa. Sunday's game will be broadcasted live on SEC Network +.

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaSoccer on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaSoccer on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.