From Head Coach Wes Hart 

“What a great win! That has to be up there amongst one of my most memorable games at Alabama. That game had a little bit of everything. Our players showed so much heart tonight. Down 0-1 early and then 2-3 late, [and] we kept fighting and believing. I loved the mentality of the group after equalizing late. Would have been easy to settle for the tie, but our players were hungry for the win.

“So many wonderful performances tonight. Too many to point out them all, but have to give shoutouts to Melina Rebimbas for coming in as a sub and making a huge impact. She had two scrappy goals and an incredible assist to win the game. And of course, Gianna Paul. Two goals on the night, including the game winner that also put her in the Bama soccer history books as the all-time leader in points.

We will enjoy this win tonight. The Iron Bowl trophy will stay in T-Town for the sixth year in a row. 

“Finally, the crowd tonight was incredible! There is no doubt they played a huge role in our win tonight. Their energy was contagious.”

How It Happened 

• After falling behind for the second time in the match, the Crimson Tide notched a pair of goals to take the lead against Auburn
• The Tigers found an early lead in the ninth minute after a ball from Oliva Wood at the top of the box bent just under the crossbar 
• Gianna Paul would send her own high shot into the back of the net in the 19th minute to even the game at 1-1 
• Melina Rebimbas followed with a goal in the 31st minute as the Crimson Tide applied pressure inside the box following a corner kick 
• Kiley Kukan picked up a deflected shot before passing the ball down to Nadia Ramadan, who found Rebimbas on the six-yard box 
• The Tide would head into the half with the lead, but Auburn would find its tying goal in the 55th minute from Jordan Crosby at the top of the box 
• A converted penalty kick from Erin Flurey secured the late-game lead for the Tigers in the 68th minute of action 
• Rebimbas started UA’s comeback, sliding to reach a cross from Larkin Thomason in the 82nd minute 
• The UA junior would find Paul running into the box to set her up for the game-winning shot in the 86th minute 
• Paul now has 86 career points, surpassing Libby Probst’s 85 points from 2002-05
• With her brace tonight, Paul now has nine goals this season, while Rebimbas tallied her second and third 
• Additionally, both Kukan and Rebimbas hold a team-leading six assists after the game