Soccer ends road trip with 3-0 shutout against Jacksonville State

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CW / Hannah Saad

Joey Blackwell, Staff Reporter

The Alabama soccer team brought an end to its five-game road trip Thursday, defeating Jacksonville State with a 3-0 shutout.

“I am very pleased with our performance tonight,” head coach Wes Hart said. “We had a lot of the ball and created a ton of quality scoring chances. Jacksonville State did not make it easy for us, though. Their commitment to defend in and around the box was high class but our team kept plugging away, did not get discouraged and were eventually rewarded for our efforts.”

After a strong yet scoreless first half, the Crimson Tide came out of the locker room and immediately scored in the 46th minute with a goal by junior defender Brynn Martin, assisted by junior midfielder Taylor Morgan and freshman defender Bella Scaturro.

Alabama kept its foot on the gas with junior forward Casey Wertz scoring in the 61st minute, assisted by sophomore defender Abby Bivens. Just seven minutes later, sophomore forward Riley Mattingly scored the third and final goal of the game for the Crimson Tide, securing the victory.

Freshman goalkeeper A.J. Crooks started the first game of her college career in the net for Alabama. Crooks saved the only shot on goal by the Gamecocks in the 37th minute, which came off of a breakaway.

“I was happy to see A.J. Crooks get her first career shutout,” Hart said. “She made a huge play for us a 0-0 that could’ve changed the complexion of the game.”

The Crimson Tide outshot the Gamecocks 20-2, with 10 being on goal. Wertz led the team in shots with five. Four of those shots were on goal.

Alabama also earned 14 corner kicks and allowed JSU none by maintaining possession on the Gamecocks’ side of the field.

With the win, Alabama moves to 4-2-1 on the season. The Gamecocks drop to 3-5-0 with the loss.

Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa Sunday for the first time since August to take on North Texas. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff.