Rally falls short

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas rallied and out-played Alabama in the second half, but two first-half goals by the Crimson Tide were enough to give Alabama a 2-1 Southeastern Conference soccer victory at Razorback Field on Sunday.

Alabama led 2-0 at the half, but in the second period, Arkansas put pressure on the Crimson Tide’s defense and had multiple chances to score.

The Razorbacks had a 9-4 shot advantage in the second period, including a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal.

Laurel Pastor’s second goal of the season at 79:06 pulled the Razorbacks within one. She took a long pass from Ally Atkins down the left sideline and got behind the defense for a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. Pastor made a move to get by the keeper. By that point, a defender had dropped back to the net, but Pastor got a shot into the right corner.

Alabama entered the game with five consecutive shutouts.

"The second half was amazing," head coach Erin Aubry said. "We got in there a little too late. We are a very dangerous team. We are getting better every weekend and the results will come."

For the game, Arkansas had a 17-12 shot advantage while both teams had seven shots on goal. Alabama had seven corner kicks to two for Arkansas. The Razorbacks were called for 12 fouls while Alabama was called for nine.

Alabama scored twice six minutes apart to take control of the game in the first half.

The Crimson Tide took a 1-0 lead at 35:58 on a goal by Lindsey Sillers, her first of the year. Victoria Frederick sent a cross from the far left corner and Sillers played it to the right of the goal into the right corner of the net, just ahead of goalkeeper Britni Williams, who dove to her left.

At 41:21, Frederick made it 2-0. Her second goal of the year came from about 30 yards out on the left side of the field. Her shot went into the left side of the goal.

Both teams took eight shots in the first half. Alabama had six on goal and Arkansas had four. Alabama had all three corner kicks. Eight fouls were called on the Razorbacks and four on the Crimson Tide.

The win improved Alabama to 8-2-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the SEC. Arkansas dropped to 3-7-2 overall and 0-3-1.

Arkansas stays home next week, playing host to Vanderbilt on Friday at 7 p.m. and Kentucky on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Download: ark, alabama box.pdf