By Brody Rupert
A soccer game does not end until the clock strikes zero, but for the Tennessee Volunteers, it stopped way earlier against the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide.
A series of errors, penalties, and out-of-control emotions drained this team’s energy before they were even down on the scoreboard.
The Lady Vols brought in four games without a goal and seven without a win, the longest in program history.
They looked to end this slump, while the Crimson Tide looked to bounce back from a close loss to the No. 1 Vanderbilt Commodores.
The goal ended the slump just 17:22 into the game, on a header from Sophia Prime, who scored her first career goal. A solo flank by Ayva Jordan from the left side put in a high shot that bounced off the goalkeeper’s hands, and Prime jumped to claim the goal.
This was Tennessee’s first and second shot of the game after a slow offensive start for both teams; Alabama had two shots through 17 minutes, and the away team had none.
Tennessee earned a corner kick with just six seconds left in the half and found the back of the net with three. Vols players celebrated until the refs called Kai Tsakiris for an unsporting penalty, wiping the goal away.
The first 45 minutes were scrappy and aggressive, with fouls and shots tied at eight each.
Alabama had a couple of chances to put a goal on the board, but their shots on net weren’t high quality and didn’t test Vols keeper Cayden Norris.
Coming out of the half, the Crimson Tide immediately pressured Norris, kept possession in Tennessee’s half, and put away an early long-range shot.
The pressure persisted, but the Vols’ defense helped the keeper by forcing takeaways, putting pressure, and forcing shots wide of the net. Alabama struggled to give the opposing goalie a challenging shot.
At 62:25, Alabama got a chance to tie the game and shift momentum after Shae O’Rourke laid out Kiley Kukan, earning her a second yellow card, which equals a red.
Larkin Thomason prepared for the penalty kick—a perfect six-of-six on the season—hoping to even the score. She struck the ball, and Norris dove to the right.
The shot was to the left.
Alabama tied it at one.
Tennessee was on their heels: fewer shots, more fouls, and only ten players after the O’Rourke red card.
The Lady Vols had no hope of scoring another goal to win; they just had to survive the last 28 minutes.
In the 83rd minute, Alabama got a breakaway from a mistake by the Tennessee backline, and Ashley Roni slid the ball right past Norris.
Alabama broke the deadlock, and Tennessee had to scramble in the last seven minutes if they wanted any chance to get back, even with a player disadvantage.
Tennessee just lacked momentum and energy.
The clock drained to zero.
12 teams make the SEC tournament. The Vols came into the game 14th.
With one game left, the Vols trail LSU by two points, with LSU in the 12th spot. To even have a chance to make the tournament, they must beat Oklahoma, who sits at fifth in the conference.
LSU has two games left, and Missouri, 13th and one point above the Vols, has one game left.
The two play each other.
UP NEXT: Three things have to happen for the Volunteers to make the tournament. They must beat Oklahoma to grab three points. LSU and Missouri have to tie so each team only gets one point. LSU must lose to Mississippi State.
This would put LSU and Tennessee tied in points for 12th, with Tennessee getting the tiebreaker from a 3-1 win earlier in the season.