After scoring six goals in just two games this season, the Michigan women’s soccer team hoped to continue its strong offensive streak against Alabama.
While the Wolverines’ (2-1) offense struck first, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Crimson Tide (3-0) offense, losing 3-1. Michigan not only got outscored, but outshot as its offensive streak came to a screeching halt.
Alabama’s offense attacked first with a shot in the opening minute of the game followed by another attempt eight minutes later. However, neither shot was a concern for the Wolverines as both were out of range. Soon after, Michigan got its own scoring opportunity in the 12th minute with two consecutive shots from sophomore forward Elle Ervin and sophomore midfielder Adi Walick. But just like the Crimson Tide’s earlier attempts, the Wolverines weren’t offensively threatening.
But two minutes later, Michigan’s offense found the back of the net first off a shot from Ervin, giving it an early lead.
“She definitely has a way of doing it,” Wolverines coach Jennifer Klein said. “She’s finding the back of the net more often this year, which is really good, something you want to see in your forward.”
However, Alabama’s offense was not deterred by Ervin’s goal and began making offensive chances for themselves. The next few shots from the Crimson Tide were on goal, each to the bottom part of the net. Though these shots were saved by senior goalkeeper Sophie Homan, Alabama eventually got its first goal in the 34th minute as forward Larkin Thomason found her shot go past Homan, tying the game.
The Crimson Tide threatened one more time before half with a shot aimed for the top part of the net, but Homan was there to make the save. At the end of the half, the two squads had a goal each, but Alabama was outshooting Michigan, 11-4, because its offense had more opportunities and was putting on more pressure.
The Crimson Tide’s offense continued to dominate as midfielder Madeline Padelski scored in the opening minute of the second half, firing the ball to the bottom center of the net and giving Alabama a 2-1 lead.
“It was a bit unfortunate that in the opening minutes of the second half we gave up a goal, … but I thought we did a good job of fighting back,” Klein said. “ … We had some moments where we really were able to possess higher up and in their attacking half. And I think from there we were able to get a couple of corners and get a couple more shots.”
One of those players getting more shots in the half was Ervin. In the 53rd minute, Ervin slotted the ball to the bottom center of the net but the potential game-tying goal was blocked by Crimson Tide goalkeeper Coralie Lallier. Later on in the 64th minute, Ervin shot the ball again but it went too high.
“Elle (is) really good at being a target for us, where we can play off of and through her,” Klein said. “We just have to make sure that if that’s going to be the case, you’re showing up for her underneath so that way we can get the ball and then look to play into one of our other players”
However, the Wolverines weren’t able to get this support, and Alabama went on to score again, this time off a penalty kick by Thomason, increasing its advantage to 3-1. The Crimson Tide offense, still hungry for more goals, fired the ball for shots on goal twice while Michigan’s offense struggled, only shooting the ball once which was too far left.
The Wolverines’ initial offensive surge wasn’t enough as Alabama’s offense quickly responded. From there, the Crimson Tide didn’t look back, as its pressure near the net proved to be too much for Michigan.
