By Martha Glen Sease

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama Women’s Soccer team lengthened its losing streak to three games today. The Crimson Tide feel 0-2 to the University of Mississippi.

The Crimson Tide faced off against Ole Miss on Sunday, Oct. 18. Prior to the game, the Tide sat just one point ahead of Ole Miss in the SEC West leaderboard after losses to both the Florida Gators and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

 

The Game

In the eighth minute of gameplay, Ole Miss employed a long throw in to act as a set piece near Alabama’s goal. Assisted by Taylor Radecki, Channing Foster snuck the ball in over UA goalkeeper’s outstretched fists to put Ole Miss up, 1-0. This was Foster’s first goal of the season.

Ole Miss then netted a second goal in the at 50’ after collecting a second ball from a corner kick in Alabama’s defensive third.

Though the Crimson Tide was not able to put any goals away, the team did create some looks. The Tide had more shots in this game than either of its past two matches. This aggressive attack in the last half-hour of the game created a few chances for the Crimson Tide. The most notable – and controversial – chance occurred in the 79th minute of gameplay.

Casey Wertz, UA senior forward, took the ball down the right flank into Ole Miss’s territory. Wertz won a corner kick, and junior midfielder Kat Rogers took serviced the corner in. Rogers whipped the ball in curving right to goal, forcing the Ole Miss goalkeeper to punch the ball out for another Crimson Tide corner kick. Kaley Verpaele, senior midfielder, serviced this corner into traffic from both sides in the box. There was a scuffle in the box that ended with both teams, both benches and fans from both sides screaming about the result of the play. Ultimately, the field referee and the line referee decided this was not an Alabama goal, and the score line remained 0-2 through the end of the game.

 

The Environment

Fans for both teams showed up in numbers and made sure their voices were heard. The fan section for Ole Miss seemed to be the largest visiting fan section so far this season. There was also an increased number of fans tailgating outside of the stadium to help create a fan section for the Crimson Tide.

Unlike the weather for week four of Alabama’s SEC schedule, the sun was out and strong throughout the match. Fans were holding umbrellas up to shade themselves, not take cover from rain this week.

This was also the Crimson Tide’s Power of Pink game. Prior to kickoff, videos were shown highlighting UA Athletics’ stances on social justice and racial injustices and “why we wear pink.” Members of various UA teams explained they wear pink to honor individuals they personally know who have fought or are fighting breast cancer.

Following the loss to Ole Miss, the University of Alabama Women’s Soccer team is now 1-3-1. Ole Miss has a record of 2-3-0 and jumped the Crimson Tide in the SEC West leaderboard.

By the Numbers

  • The Crimson Tide had 10 shots, with three on goal.
  • Ole Miss had eight shots with five on goal.
  • The Crimson Tide was awarded 10 fouls while Ole Miss was awarded eight.
  • Both sides had one player booked for a yellow card.
  • Alabama goalkeeper, McKinley Crone, faced nine shots and made four saves.
  • Ole Miss goalkeeper, Ashley Orkus, faced 10 shots and made three saves.
  • The Crimson Tide earned nine corner kicks while Ole Miss earned two.
  • McKinley Crone, goalkeeper; Brynn Martin, defender; and Tanna Sanchez-Carreto, defender saw all 90 minutes of gameplay.
  • As of Sunday, Oct. 18, the Crimson Tide is now tied for fifth in the SEC West leaderboard with Auburn University.

 

Coming up

The Crimson Tide will travel to Baton Rouge, LA to face Louisiana State University on Friday, Oct. 23. LSU (0-3-1) currently sits at the bottom of the SEC West leaderboard with only one point. This will be LSU’s second home game this season. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. CST.