Tennessee Rallies To Beat Bama, 3-2

Monday, November 3

Orange Beach, AL

4:30 PM

University of Tennessee

10-9-1

Alabama

10-7-3

Tennessee

Alabama

November 03, 2014 | Soccer

Box Score

Nov. 3, 2014

Box Score

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. --Tennessee rallied back from a 2-0 second-half deficit thanks to goals by Hannah Wilkinson and Michele Christy and Amy Neal's game-winning header in the 81st minute to defeat Alabama, 3-2, on Monday and advance to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

"Our team's backs have been against the wall for a couple of weeks now," Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky said. "We're a good team and our kids don't want this season to end. They're fighting their tails off."

Tennessee (10-9-1) fought back in the second half, finding new life after Wilkinson's goal in the 54th and Christy's score in the 67th. In the 81st minute, Christy sent in a free kick from the right side and Neal headed in her seventh goal of the season near the right post to give UT the 3-2 lead and one of the greatest comebacks in program history.

"It's awesome," Neal said. "We're playing the Cinderella story right now - first Ole Miss and now this. They're two great wins in a row and, hopefully, it will continue."

Tennessee next faces No. 2 seed Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network. UT and Alabama (10-7-3) each had 14 shots in the game.

UT goalkeeper Jamie Simmons (10-9-1) had eight saves in the win.

Tennessee had good look at a goal in the 15th minute. With the ball played into the box from the right side, Aaran Parry headed the ball high and to the left. Cheyenne Spade connected for a shot from the left side of the box but Alabama keeper Emily Rusk was by the left post for the save.

Alabama took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when Ally Ocon punched in a corner kick from Merel van Dongen to the right post.

Tennessee had a few more opportunities before the break. In the 22nd minute, Emily Morrow had a well-struck ball from the left side but Rusk made the save. In the In the 28th minute, Susan Ferguson ripped a shot from the 18 that went wide right. Anna McClung fired a shot from the 18 in the 36th minute that went high.

Gracie DeGooyer nearly evened the game with 2:25 left before halftime. Colleen Gawkins played a nice ball into the right side of the box and DeGooyer fired an arcing shot to the left that bounced off the crossbar.

Alabama struck again seven minutes out of halftime. Teresa Diderich scored on an assist from Laura Lee Smith to push the Crimson Tide's lead to 2-0.

Tennessee responded quickly in the 54th minute when Emily Morrow passed a ball in from the left side and Wilkinson shot from the left side of the six-yard box to the right post to pull UT to within 2-1. The goal was Wilkinson's seventh on the year.

Christy knotted the game at 2-2 in the 67th minute, heading in a free kick from Gabby Santorio. Santorio sent it into the right side of the box from 30 yards out and Christy headed the ball in for her second score of the year.

Tennessee goalkeeper Jamie Simmons came up with a big stop in the 79th minute. Alabama was on a fast break up the middle and a through ball passed through the Tennessee back line with the Crimson Tide's Pia Rijsdijk just feet away. Simmons played up in the box to cover it and prevent a 1v1.

The win marked Tennessee's first postseason victory since a 2-1 victory over Kentucky on Nov. 2, 2011, in the 2011 SEC Tournament.