A.J. Crooks knows a lot about pressure.

“I like being the last defender, which sounds really weird, but I like the pressure,” said Crooks, Alabama soccer’s freshman goalkeeper. “I really liked being there for my team in the desperate times they needed me, and I liked being able to make the big saves when they needed me most.”

Crooks has had a love for soccer since she started playing at the age of 8. Over the last decade, Crooks has amassed many accolades, including participating in camps for both the U.S. Women’s U-15 and U-17 National Teams.

When choosing which university she would attend, Crooks decided on Alabama due to its facilities and coaching staff.

“I love all of our facilities,” Crooks said. “The coaching staff here – they’re a newer coaching staff – I know they have good intentions with the team, and I know we’re headed in the right direction with our program. I wanted to be a part of something that was in the making, and I know that by my senior year we have the potential to do amazing things.”

The Spokane, Washington, native graduated from Central Valley High School early and moved to Tuscaloosa to join the team in spring 2019. However, just a few months before arriving, Crooks suffered a knee injury that didn’t allow her to see any playing time when she initially came to Alabama.

“I honestly had no idea what was going to happen,” Crooks said. “Obviously that was my goal – to start. That’s something that I’ve wanted ever since I was a little girl, but at the same time I know that positions don’t come easy and you always have to work hard for the position on the team.”

Crooks’ rehab kept her sidelined for a decent amount of the spring, seemingly putting her dreams of starting at goalkeeper on hold.

“She came in with the knee problem, and she worked her tail off getting it right,” sophomore forward Riley Mattingly said. “She was always the first one in there and the last one out. She wants to play, and that’s evident in her work ethic.”

Crooks’ doctor finally approved her to start practicing with the team, but she wasn’t the starter to begin the season and didn’t see much action.

In the 10th game of the fall season, Crooks finally got the opportunity to start against North Texas. She allowed only one goal and had three saves, playing the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 Crimson Tide victory.

In her five starts so far, along with one game serving as a substitute, Crooks has recorded four wins and one tie with a save percentage of 0.773. She is currently averaging less than one goal allowed per game at 0.88.

Numbers like these are proof that Crooks’ hard work is paying off.

“She makes really good saves at important times in the game, and that’s what we need from a goalkeeper,” senior defender and team captain Nealy Martin said. “She’s better than I could have imagined a freshman goalkeeper being, so I’m just really grateful that she came.”

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Crimson Tide is on track to make the SEC Tournament after missing it last year. Alabama is currently tied for fourth place with Texas A&M, behind a three-way tie for first place among South Carolina, Arkansas and Florida.

It’s been quite a journey for Crooks, but despite her early setback, she has enjoyed every moment of her time here at The University of Alabama.

“I’ve been working hard and so has the rest of the team,” Crooks said. “Just being a part of the team culture that we’re building has been so much fun. Seeing it all come together and being a part of it is something I wouldn’t trade for anything. I’ve loved every single minute of this season.”

After overcoming her injury, Crooks is expected to start the rest of this season and could be the Crimson Tide’s next permanent starting goalkeeper.

“I knew she had it in her, but when she makes big saves on the field, it makes my heart so happy,” Martin said. “You love the comeback story, you know?”