⚽️Lady Vols Soccer Thread

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#8,226
Daily Beacon

Tennessee soccer starts strong, defeats FAU 2-0​

  • Tyler Edmands, Contributor
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The Lady Vols celebrate after scoring against FAU at Regal Soccer Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024
Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon




Tennessee soccer returns to the win column after its tie with UCLA, knocking off the Florida Atlantic Owls, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon.

The Lady Vols (4-1-1) set the tone early, scoring their first goal of the night just three minutes into the contest to defeat FAU (0-4-2).


Here are some takeaways from the win.

First Five

Tennessee started the game aggressively. Mac Midgley found the back of the net for the second time this season, knocking in a pass from Kate Runyon and Reese Mattern to set the Lady Vols up 1-0 just three minutes into the game.

“From the start, we want to attack straight away,” Midgley said. “We were definitely down their throat for the first five.”

Despite opening fast, Tennessee quickly slowed down the pace.

Although Tennessee controlled the ball for 58% of the first half, it couldn’t capitalize on the rest of its opportunities, managing only two shots. Midgley’s goal stood as the only Tennessee shot on goal as well.

“It’s within them to execute for 90 minutes,” Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt said. “We came on and did it for about 50 minutes. We took about 40 minutes off in the first half, but we responded well in the second half.”

Zazzara continues impressive streak


Tennessee goalie Ally Zazzara extended her shutout streak to five straight games. She made an incredible save in the first half, taking the ball off of a FAU player’s foot in the box to prevent a score.

She finished the game with two saves, bringing her season total to 13, including 12 consecutive saves.

Tennessee finishes strong

After the first half, Tennessee and FAU were knotted up in the stat sheet, tied at three shots each, as well as only one shot on goal for both teams.

In the second half, the Lady Vols came out rejuvenated and controlled the game. Tennessee tallied 13 shots in the final 45 minutes, compared to the Owls’ 2. Four Lady Vol shots were on goal, including Sammi Woods’ goal in the 68th minute.

“Sundays are always hard, especially against a team that didn’t play Thursday,” Kirt said. “There’s a standard for ourselves, and we showed it in the second half. It comes down to whether we are willing to do all the things for 90 minutes, or do we feel like we can cut corners?”

Woods seals the victory

Woods doubled Tennessee’s lead in the 68th minute. Finding the ball after a ricochet off the right upright, she slotted it in, making the final score 2-0.

This put her on the scoreboard for the second time this season, and her first time since the Lady Vols' home opener against Chattanooga on Aug. 18.

Woods tallied four shots in the game, with the only shot on target being the goal.

“I’m trying to focus on executing my role,” Woods said. “A goal in there is great. Being gritty and being hungry to get those goals is a mentality we’re trying to preach.”
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#8,230
#8,230

Lady Vols secure win against FAU with an early surge​

  • Tyler Edmands, Contributor
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Reece Mattern (12) speeds past an FAU defender on her way to goal at Regal Soccer Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024.
Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon

Tennessee soccer secured their fourth victory of the season with a 2-0 win over the Florida Atlantic Owls in a non-conference matchup in Knoxville. FAU came into the game searching for their first win, but the Lady Vols set the tone early with a fast start.

Tennessee (4-1-1) faced a challenge as well, still physically recovering from a hard-fought draw with the No. 9 ranked UCLA Bruins.


Tennessee used this game to hammer home one of their core strategies to defeat FAU (0-4-2): “first five, last five.”

Earlier this season, junior Mac Midgley highlighted this concept of pacing emphasis on the opening and closing stages of the game.

“We do a big five and last five,” Midgley said. “We just come off as hard as we can and the last five is the same thing.”

Tennessee didn’t waste any time with this strategy, with Midgley finding the back of the net from beyond the box three minutes into the game.

Reese Mattern passed to Kate Runyon for the extra touch, which fell at Midgley’s feet.

She capitalized on the opportunity, putting one in from outside the box for the Lady Vols’ second first-half goal of the season.

“It popped out,” Midgley said. “I was the lucky one on that end of it.”


This early goal helped the Lady Vols take control of the game and would turn out to be the winning margin.

Lady Vols’ Sammi Woods emphasized that Tennessee’s mindset remains unchanged.

“It’s something we always emphasize, just how we want to come out.” Woods said. “I’d say we’ve gotten a lot better at it over time, but it’s harder to come out in a Sunday game compared to a Thursday night under the lights. Having that mentality on automatically is what we’re trying to push as the season gets deeper and the lights get heavier.”

Tennessee hoped to continue the momentum, but they faded as the half wound down.

The Lady Vols matched the Owls in the first half, only tallying three shots, with one being on goal for both teams. Although the Lady Vols let off the gas, they headed into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

“It’s hard to turn around on Sunday afternoon in the heat and keep up the speed of play,” Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt said. “I don’t think we did a great job of it, but we’re capable of it.”

Tennessee came out more focused in the second half, racking up 13 shots, four of which were on target. Woods also added her second goal of the 2024 campaign in the 68th minute to close the game for the Lady Vols.

“It’s within them to execute for 90 minutes,” Kirt said. “We came on and did it for about 50 minutes. We took about 40 minutes off in the first half, but we responded well in the second half.”

This win pushes the Lady Vols to a 4-1-1 record, with their next game being No. 7 ranked Memphis at home on Thursday. Tennessee will need to ride the momentum to tie or even win against another nationally ranked team.
 
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MAD said:
I didn’t either. So excited about the game. Are you teaching again and unable to watch?
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Nope, I'll be able to catch this week's game since I was just guest starring last week. I try my best to avoid scheduling conflicts with soccer. This should be a really good test for them. They already look better than I expected honestly. Jaida should break through any game now, I think. She was so close against FAU.
 
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brittannica said:
Nope, I'll be able to catch this week's game since I was just guest starring last week. I try my best to avoid scheduling conflicts with soccer. This should be a really good test for them. They already look better than I expected honestly. Jaida should break through any game now, I think. She was so close against FAU.
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Really good test? I see this as an OOC measuring stick. Hopefully they get off the pitch with their good feels intact. A win would be huge!
 
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#8,241
#8,241

From the Memphis Tigers website ​

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No. 5/7 Tigers Travel to Battle Tennessee​


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 5/7 Memphis women's soccer team is back to playing two games a week, taking on cross-state rival Tennessee on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. before hosting UT Martin on Sunday night at 7 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.

One of seven teams in Division I without a loss or draw on their record, the Tigers (5-0) will look to build upon their victory last Sunday morning, a 2-0 victory over Kansas State that saw both goals come in the final seven minutes of the match.

Tennessee
Memphis' match with the Lady Volunteers will be their third road bout against an SEC opponent this season. They defeated Missouri, 2-0, and Ole Miss, 2-1, on consecutive Sunday evenings away from home in August.

This marks the fourth-ever matchup between two of the state's biggest soccer programs and the first since 2009. Tennessee leads Memphis, 2-1, having collected a 2-1 victory almost 15 years ago to the date on Sept. 11, 2009, in Knoxville.

The Lady Vols are coached by Joe Kirt, who is in his third year at the helm after 15 years as an assistant. They are 4-1-1 and have only conceded one goal all season, posting five consecutive clean sheets. They rank fourth in the country with a 0.167 goals-against average.

No stranger to the American Conference, Tennessee just defeated Florida Atlantic, 2-0, behind goals from Kate Runyon and Sammi Woods. They also recently played No. 14/22 UCLA to a scoreless draw at home.

Tiger Tidbits
  • Through 5 games – 450 minutes of action – the Tigers are one of 10 teams yet to trail at any point this season.
  • Memphis extended their nation-high home winning streak to 15 games last Sunday, and they have a chance to extend the longest active road winning streak in the nation to 10 games against Tennessee.
  • The Tigers rank 14th in the country with 8.2 corner kicks per game. They have scored twice from 41 corners in five games.
Two former Vols will be returning to Knoxville
Maddie Eskins
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Kayla Barr
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#8,243

​


Zazzara Named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Team of the Week​

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Tennessee goalkeeper Ally Zazzara was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week, the organization announced.

Zazzara was unbeatable with five saves in a 0-0 draw with No. 7 UCLA and then secured her fifth consecutive clean sheet as the Lady Vols beat Florida Atlantic 2-0.

The redshirt junior set a season-high in saves versus UCLA. Additionally, Tennessee enters their match against No. 5 Memphis with the fourth-best goals-agaisnt average in the country (0.167).

This is Zazzara's first weekly honor of the season and third in her career.

Zazzara and the rest of the Lady Vols are set to take on Memphis in a 7 p.m. ET Match Thursday.
 
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#8,244

​


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MATCH CENTRAL: Tennessee vs. #5/7 Memphis​

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Tennessee soccer is prepped for its third match in the four-game homestand and are set to take on No. 5/7 Memphis on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
Admission is free for all preseason and regular-season soccer matches. Additionally, For fans planning to attend, we will have one shuttle (ADA accessible) picking up at Ag Campus and dropping off at the top of Cronan and Stephenson. Shuttles will begin at 5:30pm (6:00pm gates, 7:00pm start), and run until 1 hour postgame. Please note that Tennessee's clear bag policy will be in effect.

GAME PROMOTIONS:

  • Salute to Service Game
  • Food trucks: Smiths Endzone & Irveys
Tennessee's last few matches have been defensive masterclasses claiming their fifth consecutive clean sheet after Sunday night. The Lady Vols have only let 10 shots on frame in total after the last five as well.

The Big Orange has also been firing on the offensive side of the ball as well, almost doubling their opponents in shots and having a 1.33 goal per game average.

Midgley, after coming off an impressive offensive performance in the game before, got her first goal of the season in the third minute with a curling shot from outside the 18. Reese Mattern and Kate Runyon assisted on the goal, which marked both of their first on the season.

Sammi Woods kept her offensive campaign going by sliding it past the keeper in the 63rd minute to tally her second goal of the year.

THE MAC ATTACK: Mac Midgley got the scoreboard working early for the Lady Vols against FAU after a beautiful goal that came outside the 18 in the third minute. Reese Mattern got the initial ball into the box, and Kate Runyon got the extra touch to leave it to Midgley. That marks Midgley's first goal of the season after impressive offensive showings the past two games.

SAMMI IN THE ORANGE: In addition to Midgley, Woods tallied a goal against FAU in the 63rd minute, which marks her second of the season. The Saline, Michigan, native now leads the team in goal contributions with three.

KEEPIN' IN CLEAN: Following their 2-0 victory over Florida Atlantic, the Lady Vols now have posted five consecutive clean sheets.

PROTECTING THE NET: Tennessee goalkeeper Ally Zazzara was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week, the organization announced. Zazzara was unbeatable with five saves in a 0-0 draw with No. 7 UCLA and then secured her fifth consecutive clean sheet as the Lady Vols beat Florida Atlantic 2-0.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS: The instate-rival is coming off a 20-win season last year, they were only one of four schools. The Tigers returned 2023 AAC Midfielder of the Year Momo Nakao, AAC Goalkeeper of the Year Kaylie Bierman, AAC Co-Rookie of the Year Anna Hauer and AAC Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Player Sarah Hagg. Memphis is looking to extend their nine-game road winning streak, which marks the best in the country. Through 5 games – 450 minutes of action – the Tigers are one of 10 teams yet to trail at any point this season. Memphis extended their nation-high home winning streak to 15 games last Sunday, and they have a chance to extend the longest active road winning streak in the nation to 10 games against Tennessee. The Tigers rank 14th in the country with 8.2 corner kicks per game. They have scored twice from 41 corners in five games.

MATCHUP HISTORY: This marks the fourth-ever matchup between two of the state's biggest soccer programs and the first since 2009. Tennessee leads Memphis, 2-1, having collected a 2-1 victory almost 15 years ago to the date on Sept. 11, 2009, in Knoxville.

UP NEXT: Following its match versus the Tigers, Tennessee will play Ole Miss to open SEC play and close out its four-game homestand.
 
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MAD said:

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Zazzara Named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Team of the Week​

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Tennessee goalkeeper Ally Zazzara was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week, the organization announced.

Zazzara was unbeatable with five saves in a 0-0 draw with No. 7 UCLA and then secured her fifth consecutive clean sheet as the Lady Vols beat Florida Atlantic 2-0.

The redshirt junior set a season-high in saves versus UCLA. Additionally, Tennessee enters their match against No. 5 Memphis with the fourth-best goals-agaisnt average in the country (0.167).

This is Zazzara's first weekly honor of the season and third in her career.

Zazzara and the rest of the Lady Vols are set to take on Memphis in a 7 p.m. ET Match Thursday.
Click to expand...
Nice to see Zazzara getting recognition! She might not be the most athletic GK in the world, but her decision-making is quite good. I have been so impressed with her since she won the job.
 
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brittannica said:
Nice to see Zazzara getting recognition! She might not be the most athletic GK in the world, but her decision-making is quite good. I have been so impressed with her since she won the job.
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I think that was one of the coaching mistakes Joe made last year, making Reisz the starter. The two goalkeeper system wasn’t working and Ally is much more of a leader on the field. In the meantime Abby moved on to Pitt for a better opportunity but after playing a full 90 minutes in the first match, she has become the backup only getting a handful of minutes.
 
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MAD said:
I think that was one of the coaching mistakes Joe made last year, making Reisz the starter. The two goalkeeper system wasn’t working and Ally is much more of a leader on the field. In the meantime Abby moved on to Pitt for a better opportunity but after playing a full 90 minutes in the first match, she has become the backup only getting a handful of minutes.
Click to expand...
I hadnt followed Reisz since she transferred, but that's very interesting. She would sometimes have a bit of an attitude on the sideline that I didn't love, so I'm thrilled things are working so well for us with Zazzara.
 
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