Alabama
7-0-0, 0-0-0
Samford
3-1-2, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samford | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alabama | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Alabama Matches Best Start in Program History with 1-0 Win over Samford
9/3/2026 10:48:00 PM | Soccer
The Crimson Tide is now 7-0-0, matching its best start in program history from 1994
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Sixth-ranked Alabama soccer earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Samford Thursday evening at the Alabama Soccer Stadium, matching its best start in program history at 7-0-0.
With seven wins through seven games to start the season, Alabama (7-0-0) matches its 7-0-0 start from the 1994 season, which is the best in program history. The Crimson Tide's win over Samford (3-1-2) was also its fourth straight shutout, marking the first four-game shutout streak since the 2020-21 spring season. Ashley Roni's goal was her fifth of the season and her third game winner, while Larkin Thomason's assist on the goal marked her 100th career point.
The Alabama backline worked hard to fend off a pressing Samford offense in the first half, heading into the locker room with a scoreless tie despite the Bulldogs outshooting the Tide 9-2 with a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Alabama found more opportunities in its scoring third in the second half and in the 80th minute, still knotted up at 0-0, Larkin Thomason headed the ball down to the grass off a lobbed pass from Kiley Kukan and Ashley Roni roped one into the right side of the net off her left foot to score the first goal of the game. That ultimately proved to be the game winner as the Bulldogs were held off the board for the remainder of the game.
From Head Coach Wes Hart
"Hats off to Samford, what a good team. We knew going into tonight that this was going to be a tough game. They always play us hard. They're a great team, well coached, well organized and they battled. I thought that it was the first time all season that we got outcompeted. I wish that I could just chop it up to that we did not play well, but there is a reason that we didn't play well today and it is because they outcompeted us. I thought our [second half] response was great. I thought we came to life in the second half, created good opportunities and got rewarded and just held them off from there. I have been doing this long enough to know that a win is a win. You take them anywhere where you can get them."
Highlights
- Alabama improves to 7-0-0, which matches the 1994 season for its best start in program history
- The Crimson Tide has posted four straight shutouts for the first time since the 2020-21 spring season:
- Feb. 19, 2021 vs. Columbus State – 2-0
- Feb. 26, 2021 vs. Louisiana – 1-0
- March 4, 2021 vs. Montevallo – 1-0
- March 7, 2021 at Lipscomb – 1-0 (OT)
- Ashley Roni's goal was her fifth of the season and her third game-winning goal
- Larkin Thomason's assist on Roni's goal marked her 100th career point, earning 38 of those points at Alabama (2025-26) and the remaining 62 at Mercer (2023-24)
Scoring Summary
- 80' | Ashley Roni ripped a shot into the right side of the net off her left foot (1-0)
Up Next
- Sunday, Sept. 6 vs. Harvard – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – 1 p.m. CT
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Ashley Roni (5)
Assisted By: Larkin Thomason , Kiley Kukan
GOAL by ALA Roni, Ashley Assist by Thomason, Larkin and Kukan, Kiley.
79:03
