University of Tennessee Athletics
Alabama Edges Tennessee, 1-0, in 2OT
September 26, 2014 | Soccer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee and Alabama went to double overtime on Friday in a hard-fought match at Regal Soccer Stadium and the Crimson Tide's Maruschka Waldus knocked in a header in the 101st minute to hand UT a 1-0 loss in its SEC home opener.
The loss marked Tennessee's (5-5-0, 0-2-0 SEC) first-ever home loss to Alabama (6-3-1, 1-1-0 SEC). Tennessee maintains a 10-5-1 edge in the all-time series.
UT goalkeeper Jamie Simmons made four saves in a grind-it-out battle that ended with Waldus' golden goal off a corner kick by Merel van Dongen 42 seconds into the second overtime period.
Alabama had a 13-9 edge on shots and each team finished with four corner kicks.
The teams played an even first half. Alabama had a 6-4 edge on shots in the first half and Tennessee had two corner kicks to just one for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama's Theresa Diederich took a free kick from the right side in the 19th minute but Josie Jennings and the five-player UT wall turned it away at the top of the 18.
In the 26th minute, Amy Neal got in the end of a cross inside the six-yard box, but her header went high over the crossbar.
Tennessee had another good look at a first-half goal in the 38th minute when Susan Ferguson ripped a shot from 25-yards out. Alabama goalkeeper Emily Rusk leaped up for the save.
UT had more opportunities in the second half. In the 51st minute, Aaran Parry headed a deep cross from Emily Morrow that Alabama goalkeeper Emily Rusk (5-2) saved near the right post.
In the 54th minute Anna McClung took a free kick from the 18 that went over the crossbar.
Neither team managed a shot in the first overtime period.
Tennessee next hosts Mississippi State on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Regal Soccer Stadium. That game will feature a live video broadcast on SEC Network + with Brian Rice and Tori Beeler Watson in the broadcast booth and Sarah Mitchell reporting from the sidelines.
Team Stats

Waldus, Maruschka (2)
Assisted By: van Dongen, Merel
Header off corner kick
100:42