⚽️Lady Vols Soccer Thread

[turbovol]

Watched Vandy totally commit to slowing down the Alabama attack last night. It almost worked. They had frustrated Bama and were tied 1-1 with under a minute left in regulation when the referee called a foul in the box and Bama won on a PK. With UT's talent, I wonder how a situational defensive response to Bama would have worked out for the Vols. I bet better.

Kirt has screwed up royally--in my opinion--by not sticking with the 4-4-2, which is a sounder formation defensively and one we of course were very accustomed to playing. As you and I have noted, we don't really have centerbacks to play a 3-back system--and we don't score enough to justify the 3-back system. We certainly had a nice stretch of games in which we were good defensively---5 SEC games without giving up a goal--but they were mostly teams that simply aren't that good this year. It's also true that we played very well against Vandy--there's that, too. That, folks, was our best win of the year--and Vandy is lower than us in RPI. We haven't beaten a bona fide good team all year--and I think the 3-back is too risky against good teams with talented, pacey forwards.

We ended last year with 60 goals scored and 17 given up.

This year we have 42 goals and 21 given up.

And we had a /tougher/ schedule last year. Last year we had to play Arkansas--best team in the conference along with us--twice, including a regular season game at their place. We played South Carolina and Vandy away as well.

The proof is in the pudding, and the pudding this year is thin.

I don't know why Burdette didn't play against Georgia--we can assume an injury of some kind. Let's hope she'll be ready to go in the NCAA, because without her we will be out of the tourney in a hurry. And if you want to talk about another bad decision: I have NO IDEA where the coaches get the idea that Washington should be getting minutes. It's inexplicable, to me. A soccer player who lopes around the field rather slowly, getting involved in the action only occasionally; a player who does not read the game well, is in no way going to help you win a game. After the first 25 minutes of the Georgia game, we were a discombobulated mess. I can only categorized this season as Kirt mulligan season, to use a golf analogy.

 

[orange beard]

Kirt has screwed up royally--in my opinion--by not sticking with the 4-4-2, which is a sounder formation defensively and one we of course were very accustomed to playing. As you and I have noted, we don't really have centerbacks to play a 3-back system--and we don't score enough to justify the 3-back system. We certainly had a nice stretch of games in which we were good defensively---5 SEC games without giving up a goal--but they were mostly teams that simply aren't that good this year. It's also true that we played very well against Vandy--there's that, too. That, folks, was our best win of the year--and Vandy is lower than us in RPI. We haven't beaten a bona fide good team all year--and I think the 3-back is too risky against good teams with talented, pacey forwards.

We ended last year with 60 goals scored and 17 given up.

This year we have 42 goals and 21 given up.

And we had a /tougher/ schedule last year. Last year we had to play Arkansas--best team in the conference along with us--twice, including a regular season game at their place. We played South Carolina and Vandy away as well.

The proof is in the pudding, and the pudding this year is thin.

I don't know why Burdette didn't play against Georgia--we can assume an injury of some kind. Let's hope she'll be ready to go in the NCAA, because without her we will be out of the tourney in a hurry. And if you want to talk about another bad decision: I have NO IDEA where the coaches get the idea that Washington should be getting minutes. It's inexplicable, to me. A soccer player who lopes around the field rather slowly, getting involved in the action only occasionally; a player who does not read the game well, is in no way going to help you win a game. After the first 25 minutes of the Georgia game, we were a discombobulated mess. I can only categorized this season as Kirt mulligan season, to use a golf analogy.

Not only Burdette but claudia was out i think as well. Agree on Washington, just looks lazy and slow.

 

[turbovol]

I don't think there's any doubt that Kirt screwed up royally by not sticking with the 4-4-2 formation that worked so well last year--and our players
were accustomed to playing it. The 3-back system simply hasn't been effective enough to justify using it---and yet Kirt has stubbornly stuck with it. I don't know why. My take is that he wanted to put his own mark on the team, as the new coach--not just follow what Pensky did--but he hasn't had the guts to acknowledge that the results haven't been good enough. We have some stretches where we've played well--and played quite well defensively--5 straight games without giving up a goal. That is good, period.. But it's also true that all but one of those 5 games were against teams that weren't very good this year. We played well against Vandy--that was our best win of the year, believe it or not. Vandy is a solid team--but not a great team; the Commodores are below us in RPI. We have not beaten a bona fide good team all year--not one.

Last year we ended the season with 60 goals and 17 given up.
This year we have 42 goals and 21 given up.

Those are telling numbers.

We've had good spells of possession but have struggled mightily to score goals--partly because our opponents have most of their defenders behind the ball when we are kicking it around, and it's very hard for any team to score when there are 8/9 defenders sitting back in front of the goal. You need some talented crossers of the ball, talented headers of the ball, talented shooters. And you need to score off of corners. We've had some decent crosses--but we've been mostly lacking in all those areas. Georgia sat back and made it hard for us even as we spent the first 20/25 minutes of the game in their defensive half. When you push forward like that, trying to score, you leave yourself vulnerable to counters--and that is how Georgia scored its second goal. We are better when teams come out and play us more aggressively--leaving space in the middle of the field for Huff and Fusco to make runs and create opportunities. Had we taken advantage of our good play in the first 20+ minutes of the game and scored, the Georgia game could have been a lot different--but we've had a pattern all year of playing very well early in games but not scoring.

Also, as I've mentioned, I don't think the coaches have really gotten a handle on our personnel. That is too big a topic to get into--but I'll say this: If the coaches think that Washington is an acceptable replacement for Burdette at defensive mid--either this year or next--they are not thinking clearly. If she is th best sub we have at defensive mid, we will not be good next year. We need Burdette healthy for the NCAA or we will be out of the tourney in a hurry. And the coaches better give some serious thought to finding a GOOD defensive mid to take her spot next year. To say that her absence was noticeable in the Georgia game would be a vast understatement.

Looking forward--rest of this year and next; we need to find more players who can get up and head balls on corners. And we need to work on our shooting and on our play generally in the attacking third. Thomas needs to expand her game. You gotta do more than just hang around the box and hope to get good service so you can poach a goal or two. She's talented in that way--an asset. But her passing is not good and she is not doing much of anything to help create opportunities for others--which is what all attacking players most do. Our opponents know very well that we always try to get the ball to Thomas. I think both Thomas and George would do well to get rid of the ball more quickly when they get it. They both spend too much time with the ball.

We need to find another couple of good centerbacks so that we can get Rain and Katz back at the fullback position, where they are most effective.

 

[turbovol]

Not only Burdette but claudia was out i think as well. Agree on Washington, just looks lazy and slow.

Yes; Somebody explain to me what the coaches see in a player who lopes around the field at half-speed and who rarely if ever does anything very positive. What are they watching? She is not a good soccer player--for starters, because in soccer one's /work rate/ is vital, and she does not work very hard on the field. She should not be playing, sorry. And the coaches better find a /good/ replacement for Burdette next year or we will not be good. It's hard to overstate how important it is to have a GOOD defensive mid.

 

[turbovol]

I thought Pensky might struggle this year at FSU, with 4 starters leaving the program. But it turns out that FSU still had a /lot/ of returning talent, and Pensky knows what he's doing. The Noles gave up more goals this year than they would have under Krikorian--but they also scored a lot more goals and were more entertaining to watch than they were under Krikorian AND they just won the ACC Tourney Title, bossing UNC in the 2nd half and winning the match, 2-1.

FSU has a lot more team athleticism than we do--their defenders are more athletic and their attackers are more dynamic and athletic, and they all move the ball quickly and smartly. We just aren't dynamic and athletic enough, overall, and our ball movement is too slow. Even with our limitations--some of which this year the result of bad personnel decisions by Kirt--Pensky won 20 games and we earned a 3 national seed last year, winning the SEC tourney title. Kirt has taken the same group and won 10 games--so, yea, we can thank White for a lame, lazy coaching search.

 

[turbovol]

I see South Carolina is in the SEC title match, playing bama. It's scoreless as I write, with 9:00 to go in the first half.

Nobody does more with their talent than South Carolina coaches. I saw them a couple of times early in the season and they were not good--not bad, but not good either. They rarely have much attacking talent. But they always get better over the course of a season, absolutely destroyed us (unbelievable) and here they are--giving bama a tough game. They may not win today, but they are always tough and opportunistic. Gotta hand it to them. Hate it, but have to.

 

[kregman]

SC just won it.

 

[turbovol]

Bama loses its perfect SEC season, and the SEC tourney title, much like Arkansas did last year. I like it.

 

[LurkerExposed]

I see South Carolina is in the SEC title match, playing bama. It's scoreless as I write, with 9:00 to go in the first half.

Nobody does more with their talent than South Carolina coaches. I saw them a couple of times early in the season and they were not good--not bad, but not good either. They rarely have much attacking talent. But they always get better over the course of a season, absolutely destroyed us (unbelievable) and here they are--giving bama a tough game. They may not win today, but they are always tough and opportunistic. Gotta hand it to them. Hate it, but have to.

Hmmm. South Carolina was ranked nationally as high as 4th early in the season, and held at least a top 5 national ranking until September 20, when they tied #19 NC State, lost to then-#11 Alabama 0-2, and lost to then-#20 Arkansas over the course of 4 matches. At one point in mid-season, they fell out of the top 25 rankings altogether, but then climbed their way back to 13th where they were ranked for their championship match versus #3-ranked Alabama.

Your assessment of the South Carolina Soccer program seems a little unfair to me. Over the last 15 seasons, South Carolina has shared or won out-right the East Division five (5) times, and has not been worse than 5th in the Division. Beginning with 2008, Florida had been South Carolina's biggest divisional rival, not Tennessee. In the past 15 seasons, South Carolina holds a 11-7-1 series record versus Florida, and a 10-3-1 series record versus Tennessee. South Carolina's 5 divisional titles since 2008 is most of any East member (Florida holds 4 during that same period - none since 2010 - and Tennessee holds 3).

In those last 15 seasons, South Carolina holds a 225-77-36 (.7189) overall record, and a 102-37-21 (.7031) conference record, compared to Tennessee's overall 172-99-33 (.6200) and 82-58-19 (.5755) conference mark. The Gamecocks had a rough 4-season stretch in that time, where 3 of the seasons they finished 5th in the East. Tennessee had a 4-year stretch where they finished WORST than 5th in the Division, including 2 seasons where they ranked 10th, and another ranked 9th.

In NCAAT play, South Carolina has reached the Quarterfinals five times, and the College Cup once, over the past eight (8) seasons. Tennessee has reached the Quarterfinals a total of once in their entire history, and has never reached the College Cup. Since 2008, South Carolina has had the most appearances in the Quarterfinals or later in the NCAAT, of any SEC member:

SEC teams that advanced to NCAAT Quarterfinals:

Texas A&M: 7 QF, 1 SF (4 QF, 1 SF since 2008, 2 QF and 1 SF since joining the SEC in 2012)
Florida: 6 QF, 2 SF, 1 NC (2 QF since 2008)
South Carolina: 5 QF, 1 SF (all since 2008)
Tennessee: 1 QF (all since 2008)
Auburn: 1 QF (all since 2008)
Arkansas: 1 QF (all since 2008)

Your comments make South Carolina sound like a under-talented program that over-achieves for its successes. It is no different for any other collegiate sports: some are philosophically strong offensively, and others are strong defensively. Shelley and Jamie Smith have a strong defensive philosophy and identity for their Gamecock program, and it appears to be a very successful one. But just because their roster plays a different style of soccer than you'd prefer, does not mean they are not talented as players, or as a program........

 

[MAD]

 

[MAD]

 

[Putbacks]

 

[MAD]

 

[Tennessee12]

I feel like we got a decent draw… right? For the first few rounds anyway. Someone with more insight in other teams let me know.

 

[Vol67]

Kirk better wake up or early exit and his inaugural season will be considered a disappointment with a foot on the doorstoop

 

[MAD]

 

[orange beard]

Damn right!! With who we lose this year and what i see on horizon he will be already letting the door close on him. Got to be a reason he was here 16 years . To make a change in the alignment this quick tells me he was not happy with the one Pensky ran all along. He has a player or two who play a lot needs to transfer because they aint going to help us at all!

 

[turbovol]

The season WAS a disappointment. We underachieved, there's no doubt of that, and we've got a 6 seed to show for it. And a 6 seed
means you've got tough matches from the jump instead of one or two relatively easy matches to start when you've got a 3 or higher seed.

Xavier is a good program and a good team---13-3-5 overall and 6-0-4 in the Big East--and that will be a tough match.
If we're fortunate enough to get by Xavier, we'd be off to Charlottesville to play UVA--a 3 seed, perennial power program that's got a lot of talent but, by its standard, has been a tiny bit inconsistent this year. A miracle win against UVA would probably mean playing 2 seed Penn State, another power program.

Just not feeling much confidence in the coaching or the team this season--had a bad vibe since Kirt opted to change formations. The parents of one of our starters expressed to me a similar uneasiness before the start of the UNC game. How is that we don't have at least one younger, athletic defender who we could have plugged into French's CB spot this year? Bizarre. This has been a glaring hole in our recruiting---or we have such players but Kirt doesn't play them.

We played well for 20 minutes at the start of the georgia game in the SEC tourney and then it was an absolute mess--which was predictable given that Burdette was not in the lineup and her replacement is simply not good. To say that we need Burdette back would be an big understatement. It would be nice to see Thomas do more than just hang out in the box and try to back-heel balls into the next. She and George need to make faster decisions, not get tied up with defenders and move the ball before losing the ball. Sorry to be salty but it happens when your 20-win team with everybody back becomes a 10-win team under a new coach with no head experience.

 

[MAD]

 

[MAD]

 

[turbovol]

Runyon looks to be a talented forward, based on some video I've seen. Good size and athletic.

 

[kregman]

The season WAS a disappointment. We underachieved, there's no doubt of that, and we've got a 6 seed to show for it. And a 6 seed
means you've got tough matches from the jump instead of one or two relatively easy matches to start when you've got a 3 or higher seed.

Xavier is a good program and a good team---13-3-5 overall and 6-0-4 in the Big East--and that will be a tough match.
If we're fortunate enough to get by Xavier, we'd be off to Charlottesville to play UVA--a 3 seed, perennial power program that's got a lot of talent but, by its standard, has been a tiny bit inconsistent this year. A miracle win against UVA would probably mean playing 2 seed Penn State, another power program.

Just not feeling much confidence in the coaching or the team this season--had a bad vibe since Kirt opted to change formations. The parents of one of our starters expressed to me a similar uneasiness before the start of the UNC game. How is that we don't have at least one younger, athletic defender who we could have plugged into French's CB spot this year? Bizarre. This has been a glaring hole in our recruiting---or we have such players but Kirt doesn't play them.

We played well for 20 minutes at the start of the georgia game in the SEC tourney and then it was an absolute mess--which was predictable given that Burdette was not in the lineup and her replacement is simply not good. To say that we need Burdette back would be a big understatement. It would be nice to see Thomas do more than just hang out in the box and try to back-heel balls into the next. She and George need to make faster decisions, not get tied up with defenders and move the ball before losing the ball. Sorry to be salty but it happens when your 20-win team with everybody back becomes a 10-win team under a new coach with no head experience.

I don’t overall like our draw but we earned it and if we want different get together and start playing. The season has been a disappointment but I think we could beat anyone on a given day.

 

[MAD]

Joe Kirt NCAA Media Availability | 11.8.22



KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee head soccer coach Joe Kirt met with members of the media on Tuesday to discuss the results of the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. No. 22 UT has made the tournament for a second straight year and will host Xavier in the first round on Friday at 6 p.m. ET. It marks the 14th time the Lady Vols have made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. The Lady Vols have hosted 17 NCAA tournament games and are 14-2-1 in NCAA matches played in Knoxville.

First-round tickets are on sale through AllVols.com or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office during regular business hours (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at 865-656-1200. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, students, and senior citizens. The first 100 UT students will receive free entry with a valid student ID.
Tennessee Head Coach Joe Kirt
On moving on from the SEC Tournament to the NCAA Tournament…
"It's giving us a little break to get back to basics, get some players healthy after a long conference season. We are obviously excited about the opportunity to host in the first round against a great opponent."

On Xavier…
"(They are) well-coached, organized, competitive, (they) rotate a lot of players. They have some experienced leaders - the Big-East Midfielder of the Year and they have some young freshmen that are contributing. They're a talented team; they're competitive. They run a lot of players in, so it's high intensity, high energy, high pressure. We have to be able to manage that for 90 minutes and be disciplined in what we are doing both in possession and out of possession against them."

On the personality of his team…
"I think they're passionate about what they do. They're passionate about one another and their success. They're a competitive group. They hate to lose, love being around one another and enjoy each other's company. They have some lofty aspirations. Xavier is up next for us, and they're excited about that opportunity and to be at home in front of our fans."

On how exciting this time of the year is…
"It's why we come to Tennessee. It's to have opportunities like this to compete in national tournaments and a league tournament. We want to try and make a run, and that run starts Friday against Xavier at home. That's where we want to be. They're excited. We're all looking forward to it. That's why we are here and why we chose to come to Tennessee."

On if they plan to attack Xavier early…
"The first 10 or 15 minutes you want to set the tone for the game. Friday night will be no different. We want to put pressure on them, to put them on their heels, and they're going to try and do the same to us to see who's going to throw that first punch. I think our players are certainly hungry and ready after having some time off, and they want to protect their home turf. They're excited about it and are looking forward to the game."

On if the game plan changes in postseason…
"I think each game is different. I think each game poses a different challenge on both sides of the ball. What are ways that we can break teams down? What do we need to be aware of and ready for from teams? Everybody has different style, a different approach. We've had to do that throughout the year, so I think our preparation is the same as it has been all year. It's can we be disciplined and focused and execute that game plan for 90 minutes?"

On the importance of goal scorers getting good looks…
"I think it's continuing to create chances for them. We've done a good job of that all year. That's been what we've prided ourselves on is getting looks and being intentional and taking those chances when they present themselves and continuing to find different ways to get at teams. Like you said, teams have done some different things. We've had to find different ways to solve it. Those guys have done a phenomenal job all year of creating great chances for each other as well as for themselves at times. We're excited by it, and they're excited for another opportunity to go out there and compete."

On what Jaida Thomas has meant to the team…
"She's obviously been at the heart of a lot of our goals. It's certainly 11 of us trying to attack and defend, but she's got a nose for the goal and is definitely a threat in the box at any time. As are Jordan (Fusco), Taylor (Huff), Mackenzie (George), our wide players getting in there. She's been a consistent force for us for the better part of two years and she continues to find ways to score goals, even in some difficult situations, she finds ways to make an impact. We're expecting that from her going forward in the tournament."

On what makes Taylor Huff special…
"Her competitive drive. She hates to lose, she fits in well on the team in that capacity. She's a special player - her mentality, her ability to solve the game on the dribble or with the pass, her creativity with and without the ball. She sees the game really well and certainly has the physical tools to impact it. I think it's her mentality, but it's also her physical tools that she possesses that really makes her special and that teams have to account for."

 

[MAD]

 

[MAD]