Alabama Soccer Breaks Through, Triumphs over Southern Miss

No. 12 Alabama soccer reverted to its winning ways on Thursday in Hattiesburg.

For the first time since Aug. 27, the No. 12 Alabama soccer team is back in the scoring column. Ironically, it was a defender whose goal ended the drought and secured the victory against Southern Miss on Thursday. 

The attack had struggled to finish chances, resulting in a pair of disappointing draws against Miami and Samford. It took fewer than 10 minutes of play in Hattiesburg, Miss., for all of the frustrations ensuing from the scoring failures to subside. 

In the ninth minute, defender Marianna Annest took advantage of the opportunity afforded her by a free kick situation and put one behind Golden Eagles keeper Alex Helbling from close range. It was her first goal of the season. Just like that, the frustration and angst from not having scored in more than 180 minutes was at its end. 

"[It] felt good to score a couple goals," head coach Wes Hart said, "but, more importantly, win the game."

The Crimson Tide offense marched forward without a hint of complacency. After all, it had lost time and missed chances to make up for. In the 24th minute, sophomore forward Gianna Paul got back to doing what she does. She launched a ball from outside the box, off Helbling's hands, and into the back of the net. She had multiple opportunities at her fourth goal of the campaign over the last few matches, not finding the mark. That was not so on Thursday afternoon. Many defenses can't keep such a prolific player out of the net forever. Those defenses have bent. Southern Miss just happened to be the one that broke.

"Glad to see Gianna get back on the score sheet," said Hart. "She had a great game and caused them problems— nearly had a few assists as well."

The Golden Eagles side struggled to create those same chances when it had control of the ball. Alabama (5-0-2) went back to one of the things it does best, something Samford largely kept a lid on last Sunday. It controlled the pace of the match and the possession and territory of the ball. A Southern Miss team that has now been outscored 12-1 by the SEC this season simply did not have the answer. Hart sent out a new starting lineup, which included freshman Nadia Ramadan getting her first college start.

The best look of the match for the home team came in the 54th minute, when Crimson Tide goalkeeper Dylan Pixton made her one and only save. It was her fourth start in what has become a goalkeeping rotation. She and freshman counterpart Coralie Lallier have combined for five shutouts in seven matches. Hart was noncommittal on whether the two would keep platooning, or one would take over duties as the full-time starter in net.

"Dylan and Coralie have both played well," he said. "They have combined for five shutouts... and only allowed two goals. I think they both could make a strong argument to be the regular starter."

Each has stepped up nicely with the help of a defense that decided to have some fun in the attacking half on Thursday as well. The Golden Eagles had nothing for that, either. The Alabama midfield at full strength has been every bit the defensive beast it's capable of being. The back line does its part, making key slides, winning balls in the air and playing physical. That unit also does a good job of establishing possession when backed up close to its goal, reducing corners taken by opponents. When everything's clicking, it's almost more difficult to score on Alabama than to keep its talented strikers from finding one's own net.

"We've been stingy and have not given our opponents many good looks," Hart said. Southern Miss put up only two shots in 90 minutes and took a single corner. The Crimson Tide offense didn't relent. It was hungry for more, not satisfied with just a pair of scores following two shutouts. The Crimson Tide took two of its eight shots in the final 10 minutes of the contest and had twice the number of shots on goal that the Golden Eagles had in total.

Thursday's result means that Alabama can now turn its eye to Sunday evening, which brings one of the biggest regular season matches in program history. Half of last season's College Cup field, the two programs that lost to UCLA, are set to do battle at the Alabama Soccer Stadium. In one corner, the visitors from Chapel Hill, N.C., bring their No. 3 ranking, iconic powder blue kits and reputation as one of the best programs in women's college soccer to Tuscaloosa. In the other, a team clad in crimson and white which has not lost at home in 23 matches looks to cement itself among the sport's juggernauts and climb back up in the rankings by taking a titan down. That match is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. CT, just one night after the feverishly anticipated Alabama vs. Texas football game. 

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