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Another great article from Jack Church
Kennedy Price (15) falls during a game against Kentucky at Bell Soccer Complex. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon
LEXINGTON, KY — Aside from injury, everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Tennessee soccer on Sunday.
The Lady Vols lost, 4-0, to Kentucky, continuing a five-match winless run, with just one remaining regular-season game. Tennessee only has one more chance to compete, something Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt believes didn’t happen in the loss.
“We didn’t show up to compete,” Kirt said. “You have got to compete. Five shots on goal, four goals, that’s not competing.”
The Lady Vol’s attack produced 10 shots, six of which came on target. In many games, that would be enough to produce a goal, but it wasn’t on Sunday. When the moment was there for Tennessee to get back into the game, they faltered again and again.
Tennessee also took seven corner kicks, one of its strengths so far this season. Normally, that would be enough to give the Lady Vols something, but when it came time to win the battles in both boxes, they didn’t do enough.
“It goes back to our competitive fight and ability to produce in the moment,” Kirt said. “We haven’t done that with a level of consistency.”
Tennessee conceded very early in the game, letting in a corner kick goal just six minutes into the game. Although the Lady Vols have been strong throughout the year in dealing with set pieces, they failed at dealing with Kentucky’s first set piece.
Later in the game, Makala Woods destroyed Tennessee’s defense, scoring her first career hat trick. Tennessee’s defense and goalkeeping had no response for Woods’ presence within the team.
With 30 minutes left, Tennessee started making mass substitutions, trying to find any possible response to its four-goal deficit. The Lady Vols didn’t find an answer no matter how deep into their bench they went.
“They’ve clearly shown the ability to get stuck in and compete,” Kirt said. “Other days like today, we don’t. We get punished for it, and that’s on me to make sure our team is prepared and ready to go. We weren’t today.”
Kentucky didn’t create too many problems offensively. The Wildcats earned three corner kicks and put five shots on target, but almost every time they got a chance to score, they did. That was the difference between a competitive match and the blowout that happened Sunday in Lexington.
Even Ally Zazzara, Tennessee’s normally trustworthy goalkeeper, didn’t find consistency. She let in four goals on five shots faced and was pulled with half an hour left.
“Her mentality and controlling her box, her voice, her presence, all of it I thought was inconsistent,” Kirt said. “Talk about our competitiveness in every line, it’s our goal against all lines.”
Tennessee now finds itself in a simple situation. A win over Florida on Wednesday sends the Lady Vols to Pensacola, Florida for the SEC Tournament. A draw or a loss eliminates Tennessee, ending its season.
A good performance isn’t enough for Tennessee on Wednesday, unlike prior moments this season. The Lady Vols have to end the match with more goals than their opponent.
Wednesday’s match isn’t just a test of Tennessee’s ability. It’s a test of how willing the Lady Vols are to make sure every aspect of the game in their control is executed perfectly.
“It’s a gut check for them of who they want to be about,” Kirt said. “Are we going to be tough and compete, or are we just going to go through the motions?”
Tennessee soccer lacks ‘competitive fight’ in loss to Kentucky
Kennedy Price (15) falls during a game against Kentucky at Bell Soccer Complex. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon
LEXINGTON, KY — Aside from injury, everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Tennessee soccer on Sunday.
The Lady Vols lost, 4-0, to Kentucky, continuing a five-match winless run, with just one remaining regular-season game. Tennessee only has one more chance to compete, something Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt believes didn’t happen in the loss.
“We didn’t show up to compete,” Kirt said. “You have got to compete. Five shots on goal, four goals, that’s not competing.”
The Lady Vol’s attack produced 10 shots, six of which came on target. In many games, that would be enough to produce a goal, but it wasn’t on Sunday. When the moment was there for Tennessee to get back into the game, they faltered again and again.
Tennessee also took seven corner kicks, one of its strengths so far this season. Normally, that would be enough to give the Lady Vols something, but when it came time to win the battles in both boxes, they didn’t do enough.
“It goes back to our competitive fight and ability to produce in the moment,” Kirt said. “We haven’t done that with a level of consistency.”
Tennessee conceded very early in the game, letting in a corner kick goal just six minutes into the game. Although the Lady Vols have been strong throughout the year in dealing with set pieces, they failed at dealing with Kentucky’s first set piece.
Later in the game, Makala Woods destroyed Tennessee’s defense, scoring her first career hat trick. Tennessee’s defense and goalkeeping had no response for Woods’ presence within the team.
With 30 minutes left, Tennessee started making mass substitutions, trying to find any possible response to its four-goal deficit. The Lady Vols didn’t find an answer no matter how deep into their bench they went.
“They’ve clearly shown the ability to get stuck in and compete,” Kirt said. “Other days like today, we don’t. We get punished for it, and that’s on me to make sure our team is prepared and ready to go. We weren’t today.”
Kentucky didn’t create too many problems offensively. The Wildcats earned three corner kicks and put five shots on target, but almost every time they got a chance to score, they did. That was the difference between a competitive match and the blowout that happened Sunday in Lexington.
Even Ally Zazzara, Tennessee’s normally trustworthy goalkeeper, didn’t find consistency. She let in four goals on five shots faced and was pulled with half an hour left.
“Her mentality and controlling her box, her voice, her presence, all of it I thought was inconsistent,” Kirt said. “Talk about our competitiveness in every line, it’s our goal against all lines.”
Tennessee now finds itself in a simple situation. A win over Florida on Wednesday sends the Lady Vols to Pensacola, Florida for the SEC Tournament. A draw or a loss eliminates Tennessee, ending its season.
A good performance isn’t enough for Tennessee on Wednesday, unlike prior moments this season. The Lady Vols have to end the match with more goals than their opponent.
Wednesday’s match isn’t just a test of Tennessee’s ability. It’s a test of how willing the Lady Vols are to make sure every aspect of the game in their control is executed perfectly.
“It’s a gut check for them of who they want to be about,” Kirt said. “Are we going to be tough and compete, or are we just going to go through the motions?”
Short for charisma.
