Late goal lifts No. 19 Alabama to win over rival Auburn
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - A goal in the 86th minute from Felicia Knox lifted the No. 19 Alabama soccer team (8-2-4, 2-2-1 SEC) to a 2-1 victory over the Auburn Tigers (8-2-4, 2-2-1 SEC) Thursday.
The win marked the fourth consecutive year Alabama has won the Iron Bowl of Soccer as UA extended its home unbeaten streak to 27 games.
Nadia Ramadan netted the first goal of the game in the ninth minute. However, Auburn's Dylan Driver scored the equalizer just before the two teams broke for halftime. Knox would find the game-winning goal in the 86th minute to lead the Tide to victory.
"Super proud of the team for the fight and character they showed," Alabama coach Wes Hart said. "We had a great start to the game. Nadia scored a brilliant goal. Then towards the end of the half, we let it slip away and gave up the equalizer before half.
"I liked how we came out in the second half and credit Auburn too. They came out tough. It was back-and-forth and both teams had some good looks. Ultimately, we got one at the end with a big-time strike by one of the top midfielders in the country. So, all in all I couldn't be more pleased."
Ramadan opened the scoring in the ninth minute of play.
Isabel Smith crossed the ball just outside the box to Ramadan who corralled it and fired a shot into the upper right corner of the goal.
Driver scored the Tigers' lone goal during the 38th minute of action after Alabama was unable to clear a saved shot out of the box.
In the 86th minute, Sydney Japic played a ball back to Bella Scaturro Bright, who found Knox 18- ards out. Knox took a touch, turned and fired the ball into the lower right corner of the net.
For the second consecutive year, Alabama netted the game-winning goal against the Tigers with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
Ramadan scored her third goal of the season and her second in as many matches.
The Tide paced the game in shots (14-6), shots on goal (10-3), and corner kicks, (4-1).
Alabama forced a season-high eight saves from Auburn's Maddie Prohaska, as Dylan Pixton tallied two in net to help the Tide secure the win
Up Next
Alabama will head to College Station, Texas, to take on Texas A&M Sunday The game will kick off on SEC Network+ at 6 p.m. CT