Alabama Soccer Misses out on NCAA Tournament

With the Crimson Tide failing to secure a bid to the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Alabama is forced to start thinking about the future

Alabama Athletics

The Alabama women’s soccer team saw its season officially come to end as the Crimson Tide didn't receive a bid to the 2019 NCAA Tournament. 

Alabama ended the year with a 10-7-3 overall record, finishing 4-4-2 in conference play.

Alabama outscored opponents 36-24, attempting three times as many corners (153-56) and outshot the opposition 335-195. 

The Crimson Tide scored an average of 1.89 goals per game compared to 1.26 from opponents. Notable results include North Texas – a tournament team – which the Crimson Tide defeated 3-1, and Auburn, which Alabama defeated in the first round of the SEC Tournament. 

Alabama was efficient on the road this year, finishing 5-2-3.

Junior forward Casey Wertz led the Crimson Tide from the front, recording six goals and seven assists. Head coach Wes Hart will return most of his offensive firepower next season in the form of sophomore Riley Mattingly and freshman midfield duo Carlee Giammona and Macy Clem.

Defensively, the Crimson Tide will lose an anchor in Nealy Martin and goalkeeper Alex Plavin. 

The spring season will provide Hart the opportunity to develop his young side for the upcoming year, capitalizing on the experience that his eleven freshmen gained through their extended minutes this season. 

Replacing upperclassmen is never easy, but Hart should feel as confident as possible with the emergence of freshmen defenders Bella Scaturro and Sasha Pickard. These two, alongside rising senior Brynn Martin, should create a strong backline to protect AJ Crooks, who assumed the role of starting goalkeeper midway through the season.

In the midfield, Alabama will return the likes of Taylor Morgan, Kaley Verpaele, and Kat Rogers as veterans to lead Giammona and Clem. Reyna Reyes, coming off an incredible freshman season, caps off what will be a loaded Alabama midfield in the upcoming year.

It may be the end of the 2019 season, but for this Alabama team looking forward, next season can’t get here soon enough.