⚽️Lady Vols Soccer Thread

A rather worthless presser by Kirt--partly because most of the questions were weak and sounded like pre-season questions and mostly
because Kirt was in his public-relations mode. The only really pointy question I heard was "how to you create better looks" for your attacking players--which in fact has been a problem most of the season--and Kirt's response was silly as he claimed that they've all been getting great looks when they haven't. Our goal total this year, like our win total, is way down. It's nice to see him finally have a presser--but then you listen and it's all fluff.
 
If Kirt wants to further promote the program, one way would be to have more press conferences. I don't think he had a single presser all season until yesterday--and that was five minutes of cotton candy with a bunch of lame questions. Texas A&M coach Guerreri has a presser every weak and gets asked real questions about the team and its performance.
 
If Kirt wants to further promote the program, one way would be to have more press conferences. I don't think he had a single presser all season until yesterday--and that was five minutes of cotton candy with a bunch of lame questions. Texas A&M coach Guerreri has a presser every weak and gets asked real questions about the team and its performance.
Hate to be harsh but I don't think he has the answers to tough questions. He would have adjusted by now it he did. Who knows maybe playoff Kirk will come out of the phone booth for the post season.
 
Hate to be harsh but I don't think he has the answers to tough questions. He would have adjusted by now it he did. Who knows maybe playoff Kirk will come out of the phone booth for the post season.
Super Kirk!
 
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Have seen some video of Mitchell, who looks like a good, physical midfielder. Possibly a promising defensive mid.

Don't think we will sign a defensive player in this class. Forward Kayla Barr and midfielder Emma Duval are still to sign, I believe.
 
How great it was to have Shaw for 2 years. A big, athletic woman who could do it all--including heads balls in (regularly) on corner kicks. You're
lucky to get a player with her size/athleticism/skill set once a decade--if that.
 
Good luck to formal Vol Cariel Ellis against LSU tomorrow in the NCAA tournament.

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Our signing class seems quite solid and talented, on the whole. Runyon and Greiner were both Florida commits who changed their minds and now
will play for the Vols. As mentioned, Runyon is quite impressive in the highlight tape I saw--athletic, got size, and seems two-footed, as is Duval, I think. Duval is a midfielder who comes from a top ECNL program out of the Chicago area--Eclipse Select. I saw some good tape on her but now can't locate it. (There's some old tape of her on Hudl, but it's from years ago.) Barr, a forward from the Tennessee Soccer Club, is fast, quick and tenacious. Keaton is a midfielder who reminds me of Burdette a bit--good with the ball, and physical. Greiner has some quicks and might be quite versatile. It's hard to know how any signee will do when they step up to major-college soccer--but I see all of these signees getting playing time at some point and further contributing to UT's success.

We didn't sign any defenders. I think it's imperative that Kirt & Co. find a couple of good young defenders who can play, and play well, next year. Katz needs to move back to wing or midfield. Moving her to the back line did not help the team, in my view, as it weakened us at wing/midfield--which is where she belongs--and didn't really help us enough defensively as she's not a natural centerback. I think we'd have been much better off sticking with the 4-4-2 this season--with Renie and Rain as our two centerbacks, moving Katz back to outside back. Kirt thought otherwise but our results did not validate that decision. But maybe we'll go on a run in the NCAA and, in a few weeks, celebrate his soccer acumen! I truly hope so!
 
MATCH CENTRAL: #22 UT vs. Xavier

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 22 Tennessee will make its 14th NCAA Tournament appearance on Friday, hosting Xavier in the NCAA First Round at 6 p.m. ET.

UT enters the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed with an 11-5-2 record overall, having won its third straight SEC East Division Championship this season. Tennessee has been ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll for the entire season and currently sits at No. 24 in the RPI.

Xavier earned an at-large bid with an overall record of 13-3-5, having posted a record of 6-0-4 in conference play to finish second in both the regular season and the Big East Tournament. The Musketeers are 1-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches.

The teams have met six times previously, with the Lady Vols owning a 4-2-0 advantage in the series. They last faced each other in Knoxville on Feb. 28, 2021, when UT took a 3-1 victory.

UP NEXT: The winner advances to the NCAA Second Round to be held Nov. 18.

TICKETS: 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. Group tickets (10 or more) are also available for $5 each by contacting the Ticket Office. The first 100 UT students will receive free entry with a valid student ID.

All tickets for the event will be digital, and fans are encouraged to complete their purchase and download tickets to their phone prior to arriving on campus. For additional information, click here.

AG CAMPUS SHUTTLE: Beginning at 5 p.m. ET a shuttle will run from the Ag Campus to Regal Stadium to accommodate overflow parking. Fans planning to catch the shuttle should park in Lot CF.

TENNESSEE'S NCAA HISTORY: Tennessee is making its 14th overall NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. UT has a 16-11-3 record in the tournament and has reached the Round of 16 seven times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2018, 2021). Danielle Marcano is Tennessee's all-time points leader in the NCAA championships, tallying 14 points on seven goals in her career (2015-2018). With two goals and an assist in her first NCAA Tournament, sophomore Taylor Huff already ties for ninth all-time in tournament points at five.

HOSTING HISTORY: UT has hosted 17 NCAA tournament games, and the Vols are 14-2-1 in Knoxville early-round NCAA games.
ROAD WARRIORS: With the win over Auburn, Tennessee completed its SEC away schedule with a perfect 5-0 record while only giving up two goals. Tennessee has gone undefeated on the road in SEC play twice previously in 2003 and 2018, but this marks the first time a UT team has won all away games in conference action.
EFFICIENCY ON THE WING: Dipasupil ranks fourth on the team in points (11) despite ranking 11th on the squad in minutes played (703). Among the four Lady Vols with double-digit points on the season, she is the only one who has attempted fewer than 30 shots, having taken just seven on the year.
TRACKING THOMAS: Jaida Thomas is second in the SEC with 12 goals this season, having moved her career total to 37 to pull within six goals of tying Kylee Rossi at No. 1 all time in career goals scored at UT. She has tallied three game-winning goals this season and 11 during her career to tie Hannah Wilkinson and Kayla Lockaby for fourth-most in program history. Caroline Brown holds the program record of 15.
 
Looks like the tropical storm is going to hit Knoxille tomorrow, with a lot of rain expected starting around 7 a.m. and lasting through 3-4 p.m, then taperiing off. Let's hope the field drains well as it would be a shame to play the game on a soggy field--would make it difficult for both teams. Maybe we'll catch a break and it won't be as bad as the forecast shows now.
 

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