Alabama soccer lost a double-overtime heartbreaker to in-state rival Auburn, 3-2, Sunday in Tuscaloosa.

“Credit to Auburn,” coach Wes Hart said. “They came in and they hung on. They’re not having a particularly good year in terms of their standards but they came to town and they made it hard on us and they walked out of here with a win.”

The Crimson Tide last defeated the Tigers in October 2011. Today’s win for Auburn marks its eighth consecutive victory over Alabama.

Auburn started off the scoring in the 31st minute, and Alabama headed to the locker room at halftime trailing 1-0.

In the second half, a different Alabama team came out onto the field. The Crimson Tide posted a goal on the scoreboard in the 59th minute with a goal by freshman midfielder Carlee Giammona, assisted by junior forward Casey Wertz.

“Big goal for Carlee,” Hart said. “She’s starting to come on now. Two goals in a row for her and I think she’s coming on at the right time hopefully.”

Four minutes later, the Tigers took the lead once again in the 62nd minute, this time with a goal by junior forward Rocio Sanders, assisted by Whitaker and redshirt sophomore midfielder Kori Locksley.

Not to be outdone, Alabama responded in the 69th minute with a goal by freshman forward Carly Wyatt, assisted by both Giammona and senior defender Nealy Martin.

Despite several scoring opportunities and a pressing offense, Alabama was unable to break the tie, and the teams headed into overtime.

The Crimson Tide saw several more opportunities to win the game with a golden goal, but were unable to capitalize. The game remained tied at the end of the first extra period.

In the 108th minute, with just over two minutes left in the game, Auburn drove the nail in the coffin with a goal by freshman forward Sydney Richards, assisted by Whitaker and Sanders.

The loss comes at a crucial time for Alabama, which is vying for a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament and a potential home berth for the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s not the fact that it’s Auburn,” Hart said. “It’s the fact that it’s three points. We’re trying to gain a top-six seed in the SEC Tournament and we let a good opportunity slip away. We’re trying to get a bid in the NCAA Tournament. We’re trying to get a home game in the NCAA Tournament and that’s what disappointing to me.”

With a dynamic pressing offense in the second half that continued to maintain the majority of possession in both overtime periods, the Crimson Tide outshot the Tigers, 29-10. Twelve of those shots for Alabama were on goal. Freshman midfielder Reyna Reyes led the team with six shots.

For Auburn, graduate student goalkeeper Kate Hart made 10 saves, including several diving stops to keep the Crimson Tide at bay.

If Alabama wants to see success in the upcoming SEC Tournament, it is going to have to capitalize on those scoring opportunities.

“Their attackers made the most of their chances, and ours didn’t,” Hart said. “The game is won and lost in the boxes and I thought I thought we were better between the boxes but they were a little more proficient with their stuff.”

Crimson Tide freshman goalkeeper A.J. Crooks allowed all three goals in the game and had four saves.

With the loss, the Crimson Tide drops to 9-5-3 and is 4-3-2 in SEC play. Auburn moves to 6-8-2 overall and is 4-6 in the conference.

Alabama faces off against Vanderbilt in its last game of the regular season Thursday in Tuscaloosa. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast on SEC Network.

“This one’s going to burn for sure,” Hart said. “But we can’t let it ruin our season. We’ve got a lot more to play for. We’ve got a big opportunity against Vanderbilt at home on Thursday in that game. I’m not going to say it’s a must-win for us, but it’s another opportunity for us to secure that top-six seed at Orange Beach and an NCAA Tournament bid.”