By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Matthew Speakman)

Alabama soccer opened up Southeastern Conference play with a 5-1 victory over Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Junior Chatham DeProspo stole the show for the Crimson Tide by netting a first-half hat trick in the win.

Alabama continues its historic start, improving to 6-1 (1-0), which is the program’s best since the 2005 season. With the loss, Tennessee falls to 3-4, losing its first conference game of the season.

Alabama got started very quickly, as DeProspo’s first goal came just eight minutes into the match. DeProspo scored from 20 yards out and The Crimson Tide’s offense was firing on all cylinders from then on. Her next goal came 21 minutes later, when she scored from 25 yards out to give Alabama the 2-0 lead. Deprospo scored once again in the 34th minute to give Alabama a 3-0 advantage and complete the hat trick.

The Crimson Tide wasn’t done scoring in the first half. Sophomore Emma Welch found freshman Taylor Hubbard, who scored her first career goal by driving the ball past the keeper to give Alabama a 4-0 lead going into the locker room.

Alabama didn’t have to defend much in the first half, but junior Kat Stratton recorded one save for the team.

Tennessee got a goal back in the 59th minute, as Carlyn Baldwin found the back of the net when a penalty shot rebounded to her foot. Alabama responded in the 75th minute when sophomore Abbie Boswell slotted home a shot to the top corner. The goal came off of a throw-in from senior captain Caroline Alexander.

Alabama led the game in shots on goal, 9-6, and tied with the Volunteers in total shots, 13-13. Alabama travels to Birmingham, Alabama to take on Samford on Sept. 13. It will be the Crimson Tide’s fifth consecutive road game.

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Source:: The Crimson White Sports