Alabama
11-8-1, 4-6-0
Northwestern
9-4-7, 4-2-5
Alabama Tops Northwestern in Penalty Kicks, Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament
11/14/2025 11:16:00 PM | Soccer
The Crimson Tide defeated the Wildcats 3-1 in penalty kicks after concluding 110 minutes of action tied at 2-2
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –– The Alabama soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 3-1 victory in penalty kicks on Friday. The Crimson Tide and Wildcats concluded two 10-minute overtime periods tied at 2-2 to force the penalty kick shootout.
Nadia Ramadan, Larkin Thomason and Melina Rebimbas netted shots in the penalty kick shootout as Coralie Lallier blocked three attempts from the Wildcats for the 3-1 UA victory.
During regulation, Larkin Thomason (67:59) and Maddie Padelski (84:51) found tying goals for Alabama after Northwestern took the lead off shots from Kennedy Roesch (27:08) and Megan Norkett (73:24).
Gallery: 11-14-25 WSO vs Northwestern
From Head Coach Wes Hart
“Really proud of our performance tonight! I thought we came out on the front foot and created some good looks early, but unfortunately, conceded the first goal. We showed a lot of grit and resiliency, battling back from 0-1 and 1-2 deficits. I thought we played with urgency while chasing the game, but did not panic. We know our attack is capable of scoring goals. [We] Stuck to our game plan and were rewarded with some great goals.
"I loved our mentality in overtime. We were so close to ending it with a golden goal on a couple different occasions.We were awesome in the shootout. We spent a lot of time preparing for one leading up to postseason play and it showed. Our PKs were perfect and Coralie came up huge in goal. Can point to a lot of great performances tonight, but Maddie Padelski was fantastic. She caused Northwestern problems every time she touched the ball."
How It Happened
- Northwestern took an early lead as a blocked shot bounced over to Kennedy Roesch
- The Wildcats held the 1-0 advantage until the 68th minute when Larkin Thomason secured a bouncing ball inside the six-yard box, firing her shot high and into the back of the goal
- Hayley Newman advanced a cross from Ava Goodin towards the back post, finding Megan Norkett for the goal
- With less than six minutes to play in regulation, a cross from Gianna Paul sailed through the box towards Maddie Padelski on the back post for the equalizing header
- The two teams would battle through two 10-minute overtime periods before facing off in penalty kicks
- Nadia Ramadan, Thomason and Melina Rebimbas all scored for the Tide
- Coralie Lallier would tally three crucial stops to give UA the 3-1 victory in PKs
- Overall, Alabama outshout Northwestern 24-13 in the game as the Tide also led 10-6 in shots on goal
- The Wildcats’ Nyamma Nelson made eight saves as Lallier tallied four saves throughout 110 minutes of action
- The penalty kick win was the first ever for the Crimson Tide as the program has gone into a penalty-kick shootout just twice in program history
- Thomason’s goal was her ninth of the year as Padelski netted her fifth shot
- Paul now has seven assists on the season
- Alabama has reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years
Next
Alabama will compete in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against top-seeded Stanford on Friday
Team Stats
Kennedy Roesch (10)
GOAL by NU Roesch, Kennedy.
27:08
Larkin Thomason (9)
GOAL by UA Thomason, Larkin.
67:59
Megan Norkett (3)
Assisted By: Hayley Newman , Ava Goodin
GOAL by NU Norkett, Megan Assist by Newman, Hayley and Goodin, Ava.
73:24
Madeline Padelski (5)
Assisted By: Gianna Paul
GOAL by UA Padelski, Madeline Assist by Paul, Gianna.
84:51
