The Crimson Tide soccer team will hit the road for its last game during the regular season, which will be against the Auburn Tigers. This upcoming game is the pinnacle point for the Tide to see whether or not it will make it into the postseason SEC tournament. Though the loss against South Carolina is still fresh on the Tide’s mind, the team is using the loss to add fuel to the fire in hopes to win against Auburn.
Currently ranked No. 6 in the SEC West, Alabama is ready to play No. 3 Auburn for the soccer Iron Bowl trophy. With a healthy rivalry between the two schools, head coach Todd Bramble thinks that the Alabama/Auburn rivalry will be on the Tide’s side this year.
“The rivalry we have between our soccer programs is a healthy rivalry,” Bramble said. “I have a ton of respect for their coaching staff and what they have done with their program there, so it makes it more fun. [This is] the Iron Bowl of soccer, and it goes back and forth to the team that wins the game every year, and we’re in possession of it right now, and we don’t want to give it up.”
Though the Tide is going up against a higher-ranked team, the Tide is more motivated to win and make it into the postseason. Junior midfielder Molly Atherton also knows that when playing Auburn, it isn’t just a rivalry game – it’s a need-to-win game.
“[Playing Auburn] is always really exciting,” Atherton said. “Now it is a must-win game for us to go into the postseason, and it’s Auburn, so it’s a huge opportunity.”
Senior defender Ashley Willis agrees with Atherton that this is the game to win but is using the rivalry to motivate herself and the Tide against Auburn.
“[The rivalry] is definitely fueling it a bit,” Willis said. “We have to win to prolong our season, but Auburn is always exciting, and it’s a heated rivalry, no matter what sport you play. You never want to be the team at Alabama to lose to Auburn.”
With away standings of 4-3-2, Alabama hopes their away successes will be on their side for this key game.
“We’ve been a pretty good road team this year in a lot of situations, so just understanding how difficult it is to win on the road and being patient throughout the game and mentally tough,” Bramble said. “We will be able to handle the environment pretty well if we can do some of those things.”
The Alabama vs. Auburn game isn’t just a game or a rivalry; it’s the one game that could change the outcome of the Tide’s future. All of the team’s practice and training are going into this game to make it a fun and challenging one.
“They are a very good team, but we are too, so it should be a fun game,” Willis said.
