MATCH CENTRAL: #12 UT vs. Kentucky
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 12 Tennessee will play for an SEC East title on Thursday when it hosts Kentucky in a 6 p.m. ET match at Regal Soccer Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
A win on Thursday would crown UT SEC East champions in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05 and set a program record for most regular-season wins at 15.
The Vols (14-2-0, 7-2-0 SEC) are coming off a week that included a 2-1 overtime loss at Vanderbilt and a crucial 3-1 victory against a Georgia team that was previously undefeated in divisional play.
The Wildcats (7-9-2, 1-8-0 SEC) posted a shutout over Missouri in their last outing, 2-0.
Tennessee owns a 15-12-3 all-time advantage against UK. The teams last met on Oct. 18, 2020, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie in double overtime.
Thursday's match will be Senior Day for five UT seniors.
Wrenne French,
Hannah Tillett,
Ashley Gabor,
Mackenzie Ostrom, and
Brooke Wilson will each be recognized in a pregame ceremony beginning at 5:40 p.m.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will be in action on Tuesday at the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. Time and opponent are TBD.
EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: With
Cariel Ellis' first goal of the season against Georgia, 14 different Volunteers have now scored at least one goal this season, and 14 of UT's 42 goals have come from players off of the bench.
BALANCED ATTACK: Thomas' goal against the Bulldogs was her seventh of the season, creating a three-way tie for first in goals scored with
Claudia Dipasupil and
Taylor Huff.
SECOND HALF TEAM: Tennessee is outscoring opponents 28-6 after halftime, has scored nine goals during the final 10 minutes of regulation and has landed two golden goals this season.
GEORGE HEATING UP: Mackenzie George earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors after scoring goals in back-to-back matches and adding her eighth assist of the season against UGA. She leads the team in assists and is tied with
Brooke Wilson at fourth in goals scored with four.