No. 11 Alabama Defeats Third-Ranked Opponent With 2-0 Win Over No. 5 South Carolina

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 11 Alabama soccer team (7-1-1, 1-0-0 SEC) shutout the No. 5 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-1-3, 0-1-0 SEC), taking a 2-0 victory in UA’s Southeastern Conference opener Thursday. The win was the third over a top-25 opponent this season and the Crimson Tide’s second over a top-10 foe.

For the first time in program history, Alabama has downed two top-10 programs in a single season, defeating then-No. 6 BYU (3-2) and No. 5 South Carolina (2-0). Additionally, the last time UA has defeated three ranked opponents, including this year’s win over then-No. 18 Clemson (3-0), in a single season was 2011.

“What a massive win for our program tonight. I thought we played well from start to finish and dominated large stretches of the match. I thought it was our most complete game of the season. So many great performances by so many different players. So great to get a top-five win at home in front of an awesome crowd. Once again, they played a big role in the game”

How It Happened

• Felicia Knox broke a scoreless 53 minutes of competition, driving a ball into the back of the net for the first and deciding goal of the match
• Riley Tanner battled on the right corner to cross the ball into the box where she found Knox, who fired a shot into the back of the goal 
• Just over a minute later, Riley Mattingly Parker fought her way onto the end of a free kick from Knox to head the Tide’s second goal into the back of the net
• McKinley Crone recorded her fourth shutout of the season and second over a top-25 opponent, holding both then-No. 18 Clemson and No. 5 South Carolina scoreless through 90 minutes
• Crone made four second half saves to keep USC off the board
• The Crimson Tide led in shots, 20-6, and corner kicks, 5-2

Game Notes

• It is the first time in program history that Alabama has defeated two top-10 opponents and only the second time in program history that the team has topped three top-25 foes
• The last time Alabama downed three top-25 ranked opponents in a singles season was 2011 (No. 22 San Diego State, No. 24 Tennessee and No. 19 South Carolina)
• The win tied Alabama’s victory over No. 5 Texas A&M in 2018 as the UA’s highest-ranked win
• Alabama set a program record for consecutive home victories as UA recorded its 11^th consecutive win in Tuscaloosa
• Parker found her seventh goal of the season in the game as Knox tabbed her seventh…