TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Crimson Tide responded to an early LSU goal with four of their own Friday night, en route to a dominant 4-1 victory over the Tigers.
A turnover in the midfield led to a Taylor Dobles goal just nine minutes into the game to give LSU an early 1-0 lead. The slow start was the last thing Tide fans wanted to see after the team’s recent struggles in SEC play. The ensuing offensive breakout, however, is exactly what those fans have been waiting for.
“I feel like there was a sense of desperation we hadn’t seen in previous games,” Tide defender Marianna Annest said following the win. “There was a sense of urgency… we knew we needed to get balls in the back of the net.”
The four Alabama goals were not only the most the team has scored in a conference match this year, but is also tied for the most goals LSU has given up in a game this season.
The Tide’s dominant run began with a goal from Nadia Ramadan off a Gessica Skorka assist in the 21st minute. The goal was Ramadan’s fourth of the season and the freshman’s third goal in the last four games.
Skorka got her second assist of the match just moments later when she set up Felicia Knox for what would go on to be the game-winning goal in the 30th minute.
Alabama wasted no time extending their lead in the second half, with Annest scoring in the 47th minute. Annest then assisted Brooke Steere on a goal coming from a corner kick, where Steere used her head to make a play.
Coach Wes Hart was all smiles after the win, claiming his team’s performance was their “best attacking performance of the season.”
“I was super pleased with the mentality of the group. We didn’t just hang on at 2-1, we went and got the third, then we went and got the fourth,” Hart added.
LSU’s Mollee Swift did all she could do in the goal for the Tigers, saving seven of the Crimson Tide’s 11 shots on goal.
Alabama’s Coralie Lallier had a solid game in goal as well, saving two of the Tiger’s three shots on goal in her first start in three games.
The 24th ranked Tide move to 9-3-4 following the win, with a record of 3-3-1 in SEC play. Alabama now holds the fourth-place spot in the SEC West standings, behind Texas A&M, Arkansas and Mississippi State.
The Crimson Tide will be back in action on Thursday, when they travel to Oxford, Mississippi to take on Ole Miss.
Caden Johnson serves as WVUA-FM’s senior soccer writer. You can follow him on X @CadenLJohnson.