Vols Drop Season Opener At Alabama, 3-1

Saturday, September 19

Tuscaloosa, AL

2:00 PM

University of Tennessee

0-1-0, 0-1-0

Alabama

1-0-0, 1-0-0

Tennessee

Alabama

September 19, 2020 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Vols could not overcome a 3-0 deficit Saturday afternoon, as Tennessee dropped its season opener to Alabama 3-1 at the Alabama Soccer Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Redshirt-senior forward Erin Gilroy supplied Tennessee's first goal of the season in the 76th minute, taking a ball from the midline, creating space at the top of the box and firing a missile into the left corner of the netting. It was her third-straight year scoring a goal in her season debut, as she found the back of the net against George Mason on August 19, 2018 and against Fordham on August 22, 2019.

an @erin_gilroyy banger for our first goal of the season 🚀 pic.twitter.com/ABo1O7pcTo
— Tennessee Soccer (@Vol_Soccer) September 19, 2020

The Vols (0-1) outshot the Crimson Tide (1-0) 17-15 on Saturday, while Alabama held possession for 60 percent of the contest. Sophomore forward Alicia Donley led UT with seven shot attempts for the match, including four on frame.

Up 1-0 out of halftime, Alabama wasted no time building a three-goal lead with scores in the 48th and 49th minute. Junior forward Riley Mattingly tallied her second of the afternoon heading in a cross from Felicia Knox, then 52 seconds later in regulation, Serena Pham found the far post from inside the box to give the Tide a 3-0 advantage.

Alabama marked the scoresheet first with Mattingly's penalty kick make in the 19th minute. Crimson Tide senior Casey Wertz drew a foul in the box to set up the scoring opportunity.

Tennessee had an 11-6 edge in shot attempts in the opening frame, led by Donley who mustered up six shots with three on target. The sophomore from Pickerington, Ohio, made her first career start on Saturday for the Big Orange.

TENNESSEE DEBUTS: Five players took the field as Vols for the first time Saturday, with junior transfers Hannah Tillett and Brooke Wilson starting the match while Maddie Eskin, Giselle Washington and Jaida Thomas entered as substitutions in the first half.

SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD: In a demonstration of solidarity between the two programs in the fight against racism in society, both the Tennessee and Alabama starting lineups came together for a pregame photo op as part of the 'Show Racism the Red Card' campaign.

🟥 Show Racism the Red Card 🟥 pic.twitter.com/nDYnjHxTsP
— Tennessee Soccer (@Vol_Soccer) September 19, 2020

UP NEXT: The Vols will host in-state rival Vanderbilt on Sunday, September 27 at Regal Soccer Stadium for Tennessee's first home athletics event of the 2020-21 academic year. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m., and the match will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.