Bama Central

Alabama Soccer Advances to SEC Tournament Championship

Riley Mattingly Parker scored the game-winning goal with less than a minute to go for the 2-1 semifinal win.

Mason Smith

For the first time since 1995, the Alabama Crimson Tide will have an opportunity to win an SEC Tournament Championship after defeating Vanderbilt 2-1 in dramatic fashion Thursday night in Pensacola, Fla. 

Actually, dramatic may be an understatement. 

Although Alabama dominated the second half, the game seemed destined for overtime until Gianna Paul was fouled inside the penalty box with 38 seconds left on the game clock. The call came as a shock to the Commodores' Abena Aidoo, who was given a yellow card for the unsportsmanlike tackle, but the result was the same, a penalty kick. 

Riley Mattingly Parker stepped up as a hush fell over the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex and then buried the shot in the bottom left corner to seal the deal for the Crimson Tide.

As Alabama fans started to celebrate the Crimson Tide's 15th straight win, Vanderbilt coach Darren Ambrose exploded and was ejected after yelling vulgarities that resulted in a red card.

“So proud of this team," Alabama coach Wes Hart said. "What a great win. So many players stepped up tonight and made plays when we needed them. It's been like that all season long though. I know we get a lot of credit for our attacking soccer. Our style of play, our goals, our assists are certainly impressive, but I can't say enough about our defending, toughness and grit. I don't think people give us enough credit for that.

"So excited to play for our fourth trophy of the season on Sunday.”

The end was in sharp contrast to the beginning, which was very physical (with Riley Tanner drawing numerous fouls) and highlighted by strong defensive play. It then started to transition into an offensive affair, first with Vanderbilt taking the lid off during the 15th minute when Peyton Cutshall knocked in a cross from Kelley Reagan to give the Commodores a 1-0 lead.

The advantage was short-lived, though, as Tanner crossed the ball into the box during the 19th minute to Parker, who headed it into the corner to tie the game up at one goal each.

That was the end of the excitement from the first half, but the second half was all Crimson Tide. Not only did Alabama have 13 shots, the defense didn't let Vanderbilt get off a single shot the rest of the game 

A couple of attempts were extremely close for the Crimson Tide; first Paul's shot bounced off the crossbar, then Ashlynn Serepca's shot almost made it to the upper right corner before Sara Wojdelko extended her arm to block the shot.

Wes Hart and Co. will face second-seeded South Carolina, which needed penalty kicks to eliminate Georgia in the other semifinal match.

Kickoff for that game will be Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

Final - Alabama 2, Vanderbilt 1

Second Half

SEC Tourney Semi FINAL
  • Vanderbilt coach Darren Ambrose thrown out of the game: red card
  • GOAL: Riley Parker scores on the penalty kick. Alabama 2, Vanderbilt 1
  • Gianna Paul gets fouled inside the box. Penalty kick for Alabama. Vanderbilt's Abena Aidoo called for yellow card
  • Knox called for a handball; free kick for Vanderbilt
  • Alabama called for offsides
  • Riley Tanner draws another foul against Vanderbilt
  • Foul against Vanderbilt on Riley Tanner; free kick
  • Reyes' shot wide of the top-left corner
  • Another corner for Alabama
  • Serepca returns for Streicek
  • Parker's shot blocked, leads to an Alabama corner
  • Knox's shot sails over the goal
  • Tanner's shot wide of the left post
  • Riley Tanner comes in for Kat Rogers
  • Alabama called for offsides
  • Knox returns for Serepca
  • Ashlynn Serepca's shot in the upper corner blocked for an Alabama corner
  • Corner kick for Alabama
  • Sydney Vincens comes in for Riley Mattingly Parker
  • A foul against Vanderbilt leads to a free kick for Alabama
  • Paul's shot bounces off the crossbar, second shot leads to an Alabama corner
  • Gianna Paul subs in for Felicia Knox
  • Amber Nguyen, the injured player for Vandebilt, returns to the field
  • Tanner's shot saved by Wojdelko
  • A foul on Vanderbilt leads to an Alabama free kick
  • Alabama earns its first corner kick of the second half
  • Clock stops for an injury on Vanderbilt's Amber Nguyen
  • Knox's long shot saved by Wojdelko
  • Felicia Knox draws a foul on Vanderbilt; free kick awarded
  • Foul on Sasha Pickard' Vanderbilt free kick
  • An early foul by Vanderbilt leads to an Alabama free kick

First Half - Alabama 1, Vanderbilt 1

SEC Tourney Semis
  •  Foul on Gessica Skorka; free kick for Vanderbilt
  • Aislin Streicek comes on for Riley Tanner
  • Riley Tanner called for offsides
  • Marianna Annest comes in for Ashlynn Serepca
  • Foul on Macy Clem leads to another Vanderbilt free kick
  • Allie Berk comes in for Riley Mattingly Parker
  • A blocked shot by McKinley Crone leads to a Vanderbilt corner
  • Gianna Paul comes in for Kat Rogers
  • Riley Tanner draws another foul on Vanderbilt
  • Alabama gets its first corner kick of the game
  • Reyna Reyes' shot goes just wide of the right post
  • GOAL: Riley Mattingly Parker scores a header off a cross from the left side. Alabama 1, Vanderbilt 1
  • Ashlynn Serepca draws a foul against Vanderbilt
  • Vanderbilt called for offsides
  • Serepca's shot goes over the top of the goal
  • Another foul on Vanderbilt results in a free kick for Alabama
  • GOAL: Peyton Cutshall heads in a goal of the cross. Vanderbilt 1, Alabama 0.
  • Ashlynn Serepca's shot saved by Vanderbilt's Sara Wojdelko
  • Ella Zimmerman fouls Kat Rogers; free kick for Alabama
  • Foul on Macy Clem; free kick for Vanderbilt
  • A foul against Vanderbilt's Ella Shamburger leads to a free kick for Riley Mattingly Parker
  • Foul against Riley Tanner; free kick for Vanderbilt
  • A foul against Vanderbilt leads to a free kick for Alabama

Pregame

Kate Henderson is out with an injury

Officials for the game: Tori Penso (Referee) John Villalobos (Assistant Referee1) Katarzyna Wasiak (Assistant Referee2) Anya Voight (Alternate Official)

See Also: 

Alabama Soccer Keeps Finding Ways to Win

Joy in Net: McKinley Crone More Than Alabama Soccer's Last Line of Defense

BamaCentral on Campus Podcast: Interview with Alabama Goalkeeper McKinley Crone, Alabama Football Headed to Death Valley

Want to see the Crimson Tide or other teams? SI Tickets

Published
Mason Smith
MASON SMITH

Mason Smith is a staff writer for BamaCentral, covering football, basketball, recruiting and everything in between. He received his bachelor's degree in Journalism from Alabama State University before earning his master's from the University of Alabama.

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