Parker’s PK sends 1-seed Alabama to SEC title game

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A brace from Riley Mattingly Parker propelled top-seeded Alabama (19-1-1) to a 2-1 victory over fifth-seeded Vanderbilt (11-4-4) Thursday as the Crimson Tide advanced to its first SEC Championship appearance since 1995.

A foul inside the box sent Parker to the penalty kick spot with 40 seconds left the clock and the scored tied at 1-1. Parker would take a short run to the ball and fire it into the back of the net to give the Tide the 2-1 win.

How It Happened

• Vanderbilt attacked first with Peyton Cutshall off a header into the top right corner of the net
• Less than five minutes later, Riley Mattingly Parker found the Tide’s equalizer
• Felicia Knox played Riley Tanner through the backline to crossed the ball to Parker standing in front of the net for the header
• Alabama dominated possession in the second half but was unable to find the back of the net
• With less than a minute to play, Gianna Paul was taken down inside the box
• Parker stepped up and sank the shot to give the Tide the win

Game Notes

• The Tide advanced to the finals for the second time in program history and first time since 1995
• The win over Vanderbilt marked the first time UA has recorded two wins in the SEC Tournament
• UA moved to 19 wins on the year and 15th consecutive victories Riley Mattingly Parker set the program record for single-season game-winning goals, netting her sixth this season with her 89th minute penalty kick in tonight’s game
• Parker now holds 34 points this season after notching her 13th and 14th goal this season in the game
• The victory snapped a four-game run by the Commodores

Next

Alabama will play the winner between second-seeded South Carolina and sixth-seeded Georgia The SEC Championship kicks off Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network