Alabama Soccer Falls to FGCU, 4-2, in Home Opener

Friday, August 24

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7 p.m. CT

Alabama

0-2-1

FGCU

2-0

FGCU

Alabama

Alabama Soccer Falls to FGCU, 4-2, in Home Opener

8/24/2018 10:06:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)Game Photos Coach Hart Postgame Interview

The Crimson Tide scores two late goals, but could not complete comeback

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama soccer team dropped its 2018 home opener, falling to FGCU, 4-2, Friday night at the Alabama Soccer Complex. The Crimson Tide fell behind early and never recovered as it dropped to 0-2-1 on the year, while the Eagles improve to 2-0.

"I believe we are better than we showed tonight," Alabama head coach Wes Hart said. "We started the game off okay and we were connecting passes with some decent spells of possession. We kept fighting to the end tonight and got a couple goals back and that was a positive. Our goal is to peak as the season goes on and we're not going to panic. We still have a lot of season left to play."

FGCU, the eight-time defending A-SUN champions and preseason pick to win its league, jumped out early with a pair of goals just four minutes apart. The Eagles began the scoring in the 26^th minute when Cassidy Morgan deposited a rebound off her own shot into the back of the net. Just 4:13 later, at the 29:28 mark, it was Holly Fritz who outran an Alabama defender and beat goalkeeper Alex Plavin for two-goal advantage.

The Eagles began the second half by scoring just 20 seconds into the period when Marjorie Boilesen tallied the eventual game-winner on a breakaway, giving her team a three-goal cushion. FGCU took an insurmountable 4-0 lead in the 76^th minute when the Eagles' Evdokia Popadinova found the back of the net making her the fourth different goal-scorer on the night.

The Crimson Tide never gave up and was rewarded with a pair of goals in the final nine minutes of the contest. The first tally came at the 81:47 mark when sophomore forward Casey Wertz received a cross from sophomore defender Nealy Martin and finished a shot to put Alabama on the board. The Tide's final goal came courtesy of an own goal by FGCU in the 85^th minute to result in the final score.

Despite the outcome, Alabama owned an 18-15 edge in total shots and a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. Plavin made a career-high nine saves in the losing effort.

Alabama returns to action on Sunday, as the Tide hosts Kennesaw State. The Tide and Owls are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff.

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.