Alabama Soccer Preps to Host a Pair of Sun Belt Conference Opponents this Weekend

Sunday, September 9

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1 p.m. CT

Alabama

Troy

Alabama Soccer Preps to Host a Pair of Sun Belt Conference Opponents this Weekend

9/5/2018 1:22:00 PM | Soccer

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The Tide seek to continue its winning ways as they play host to South Alabama and Troy

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama looks to continue its seven-game homestand when it welcomes South Alabama on Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by taking on Troy on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both contests can be seen on SEC Network + and will be played at the Alabama Soccer Complex. Admission is free for all fans.

Thursday vs. South Alabama (7 p.m. CT)

Promotions

Alabama Scarves (For First 150 Fans)

Sunday vs. Troy (1 p.m. CT)

Activities

Halftime Shootout vs. Big Al
Post-Game Autographs & Clinic

Promotions

Face Tattoos

Alabama Continues Record-Tying Seven Game Homestand with Two Games this Week

This year's stretch began Friday, Aug. 24, against FGCU and will last through Sept. 13 when the Tide opens SEC play against Ole Miss.
The only other time in program history that Alabama played seven consecutive home matches came in 2007. The Tide finished 5-1-1 over the stretch that season.
The Tide has play four games in its current homestand, sporting a record of 3-1 over the stretch.

One More Means School Record

Senior Emma Welch needs just one assist to break the all-time career assist record at the University of Alabama.
Welch, who was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American and earned a spot on the all-district and all-conference teams a year ago, has collected 19 career assists. Last season, she led the Tide with eight helpers on the year, which tied for second on the school's single-season assist chart.
She is currently tied for the most assists in program history, matching the 19 career assists by former standout Libby Probst (2002-05).

About Alabama

The Tide has found its stride, as it enters Thursday on a three-game home winning streak. The overall season record stands at 3-2-1.
Head coach Wes Hart is looking to build off a stellar 2017 campaign, returning eight starters and 16 letter-winners from last season's team that finished with a 12-8-1 overall record.
The 12 wins by Alabama was the third-most victories in a season in program history, highlighted by thrilling 1-0 win over then-No. 4 Florida State – the highest-ranked team the Tide has beaten in program history.
Alabama earned an at-large berth to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, which marked its first NCAA appearance since 2011 and just the third in program history.
Hart enters his fourth season at Alabama, with an improved record in each of his first three seasons at the helm of the program. He owns a career record of 29-30-6 (.458) over his four seasons, but is 24-18-4 (.549) since the 2016 campaign.
Alabama was picked to finish eighth in the SEC by a vote of the league's head coaches. The Tide had five players who were selected to the SEC Preseason Watch List: Forwards Abbie Boswell and Casey Wertz along with midfielders Christina Maartensson, Taylor Morgan and Emma Welch.

Scoring Machines

Sophomore forward Casey Wertz is off to a hot start this season as she has already scored four goals in just three of the six matches played. More impressively, she leads the team in scoring with a third of the goals scored this season.
Sophomore Taylor Morgan, and seniors Abbie Boswell, Kayla Mouton, and Christina Maartensson have each tallied a goal this season as well.

Fresh Faces

Sunday's win over Rice marked a handful of players' career and season firsts. Junior Nealy Martin, redshirt-freshman Gabby Duca, and Kaley Verpaele scored their first career goals, and sophomore Gigi Schorr picked up her first career assist.
The Tide's freshman class has already made a big impact, with three freshmen earning starting positions in at least one game so far this season. Riley Mattingly has started five out of the six matches, while goalkeeper Kaylee Hammer made a starting appearance against University of Northern Texas.
Kat Rogers stands just below Wertz with six points (2 goals, 2 assists), both goals scored versus Kennesaw State.

Scouting the Jaguars

Thursday's match against South Alabama marks the 10^th time in history the two teams will meet, and the fifth match in Tuscaloosa. Alabama leads the series 8-1, with its only loss occurring on the road in 1995.
The Jaguars will enter Thursday's match with a 2-3 season record, after falling to Ole Miss on Sunday.
South Alabama swept the two major conference preseason awards and was picked to finish first in the Sun Belt Conference.
Senior Hannah Godfrey was voted the SBC Defensive Player of the Year and junior Kory Dixon was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year. The Jaguars received 117 points and seven first-place votes in the poll.

Scouting the Trojans

Sundays' match against Troy marks the sixth meeting in history, between the two squads. Alabama owns the series at 5-0, with four of the wins being on home turf. In the last meeting, the Tide outscored the Trojans 3-0, in Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 3, 2017.
The Trojans (1-4-1) are winless over its last five games since winning the season opener at Jacksonville. The Trojans seek a change of pace when they play at Tennessee Tech before facing Alabama on Sunday.
Troy was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll, after finishing last season with a 6-4 league record, winning four of the last five regular season games while outscoring opponents 12-6. Troy has 11 players from last year's squad and welcomes 19 newcomers.
Some players to watch are 2018 Sun Belt Women's Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year junior forward, Kory Dixon. Senior defender Hannah Godfrey was given the 2018 Sun Belt Women's Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Last Week's Recap

Alabama defeated Virginia Tech 1-0 last Thursday, with the lone goal of the game courtesy of a Virginia Tech own goal.
Last Sunday's 5-1 victory over Rice started off with 1-0 lead heading into the locker room, thanks to Verpaele's goal and Morgan's assist. The Tide finished the second half by scoring four goals in the final 20 minutes, including three in a span of nine minutes, to seal the win. All five of the Crimson Tide's goals were from five different scorers, Verpaele, Duca, Martin, Wertz, and Maartensson.

Non-Conference Campaign

Alabama opened the 2018 season with a pair of home matches, as the Tide fell to FGCU, 4-2. Even with FGCU scoring four goals, sophomore Alex Plavin made a career-high nine saves in the losing effort.
The Tide earned their first season victory by dominating from start to finish in its 6-0 win over Kennesaw State.

Coming Up

Alabama closes their homestand stretch as it welcomes Ole Miss on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m., followed by hitting the road at DePaul on Sunday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m.

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaSoccer on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaSoccer on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.