Alabama
1-0-0, 0-0-0
DePaul
0-1-0, 0-0-0
No. 7 Alabama Wins Season Opener Against DePaul 2-0
8/17/2023 10:22:00 PM | Soccer
The Crimson Tide extended its home winning streak to 21 straight victories at the Alabama Soccer Stadium
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Seventh-ranked Alabama soccer opened the 2023 campaign with a 2-0 victory over DePaul on Thursday night.
The Crimson Tide saw goals from Gianna Paul (4:57) and Itala Gemelli (43:26) in the win. With the victory, UA extended its home winning streak to an NCAA-leading 21 straight games.
Welcome back Gianna Paul!
— Alabama Soccer (@AlabamaSoccer) August 18, 2023
6' | First-half
?? 1
?? 0
?? https://t.co/0DVd1SgSuM#RollTide pic.twitter.com/wDvDc19VL6
From Head Coach Wes Hart
"It was a win, so we will certainly take it. I was pleased. We're still learning and trying to figure out who we are, but I thought we saw some good moments. It was awesome to get an early goal, and then to end the half with a goal. I thought it was great. I thought our best stretch of the game was early in the second half. We were all over. I think if we could have got a goal there, probably the floodgates would've opened. Credit to DePaul, their keeper made some big saves and they hung tough and made it hard for us. Overall, I'm pleased we got the win."
Itala Gemelli puts one through in her debut for the Crimson Tide??
— Alabama Soccer (@AlabamaSoccer) August 18, 2023
43' | First-half
?? 2
?? 0
?? https://t.co/0DVd1Shqkk#RollTide pic.twitter.com/6lSmUDnMqk
The Game
- While on Alabama's defensive side of the field, Tanna Sanchez-Carreto passed the ball through the DePaul defense for Gianna Paul to run onto
- Paul then cut the ball to her right foot at the top of the box before firing it into the left corner to put UA on the scoreboard just five minutes into the game
- Despite dominating possession, UA did not find its second goal until the 44th minute
- Nadia Ramadan played a ball to Isabel Smith just outside the box, who found Itala Gemelli racing towards net
- Gemelli took a few touches then shot the ball with her left foot past the DePaul goalkeeper
- The Crimson Tide outshot the Blue Demons 21-4 and led 8-1 in shots on goal
- Dylan Pixton registered her first save of the season while the Blue Demons' Elena Milam recorded six saves
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.
-UA-
Team Stats
Gianna Paul (1)
Assisted By: Tanna Sanchez-Carreto
GOAL by ALA Paul, Gianna Assist by Sanchez-Carreto, Tanna.
04:57
Itala Gemelli (1)
Assisted By: Isabel Smith , Nadia Ramadan
GOAL by ALA Gemelli, Itala Assist by Smith, Isabel and Ramadan, Nadia.
43:26
