2023-10-19 00:47:23
Tennessee is back on the road, traveling to Missouri for a 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) matchup with the Tigers on Thursday.
The Lady Vols (6-4-4, 1-3-3 SEC) are looking to bounce back following a 2-1 loss to Georgia at home on Friday. In that match, freshman Kate Runyon found the net for the Lady Vols just 30 seconds into play off an assist from junior Jordan Fusco. Redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz made the start in goal, and redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara took over in the second half, recording one save.
The Tigers (5-6-3, 1-5-1) are coming off a 1-0 loss at Vanderbilt.
THE LAST TIME WE MET: The 19th-ranked Lady Vols extended their win streak to three with a 2-0 win over Missouri in Regal Stadium on Oct. 6, 2022. Sophomore Taylor Huff and redshirt-junior Jaida Thomas found the net for Tennessee. In goal, senior Lindsey Romig recorded four saves on the night.
VS THE TIGERS: Tennessee owns an all-time record of 8-2-1 once morest UM. UT is a perfect 6-0 when playing at home and 2-2-1 in road matches.
SCOUTING MIZZOU: Missouri was picked to finish 11th in the SEC as voted on by the league’s coaches. Last season, the Tigers went 5-8-4 overall and 2-5-3 in SEC play. Midfielders Milena Fischer and Leah Selm, defenders Grace Pettet and Rachel Kutella, and forward Kylee Simmons were selected to the 2023 Southeastern Conference Soccer Preseason Watchlist. Simmons leads the team with 10 goals and two assists on the season.
RUNYON RISING: With the goal once morest Georgia, freshman Kate Runyon moved into a tie with graduate Sizzy Lawton for second on the team in scoring and points with four and nine, respectively. She currently ranks third on the team with 30 shots and 15 shots on goal.
SECOND HALF TEAM: The Lady Vols have netted six goals over the last five contests, five of which have come in the second half. On the season, 16 of Tennessee’s 27 goals have been scored in the second half, with nine of those coming in the final 20 minutes of the match.
IN THEIR OFFENSIVE THIRD: On the season, UT has taken almost twice as many shots as it has allowed, outshooting opponents 236-123, and taking 115 corner kicks while limiting the opposition to just 40. Tennessee currently ranks fourth in Division I in corner kicks per game (8.14) and 26th in shots per game (17.00).
EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: UT’s 27 goals thus far have been scored by 11 different players. Freshmen Sarah Greiner, Kate Runyon (4) and Keaton Mitchell, sophomore Kameron Simmonds (6), juniors Jordan Fusco (3) and Nolyn Bartholomew, redshirt-seniors Maria Nelson (2) and Jaida Thomas, senior Lawson Renie and graduates Sizzy Lawton (4) and Nayeli Diaz have all found the back of the net for the Big Orange. Own goals by ETSU and MSU round out the total.
FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTING: All four of UT’s active freshmen have recorded at least one goal or assist on the season. Forward Kate Runyon has made nine starts, logging four goals and an assist. Fellow rookies Keaton Mitchell and Sarah Greiner have both tallied goals, and Linette Hofmann has started 12 contests, recording an assist in the season opener once morest Cal.
THOMAS IN THE RECORD BOOK: Before suffering a season-ending injury, redshirt-senior Jaida Thomas moved her career total to 39 goals to trail UT’s leading career scorer, Kylie Rossi, by just four goals. Thomas amassed her 39 goals in just 59 games for a goals-per-game average of .66 to rank third all-time at Tennessee behind only Bunny Shaw (0.77) and Allison Campbell (0.70).
NEW FACES: Tennessee added 10 newcomers in its 2023 signing class. All 10 are versatile field players with six enrolling as freshmen and four arriving as transfers with multiple years of collegiate experience.
BACK AGAIN: The Lady Vols return five starters and 20 letterwinners from the 2022 team that clinched an SEC East Division title for the third straight season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Redshirt senior Jaida Thomas, senior Lawson Renie, juniors Sheridan Michel and Jordan Fusco, and sophomore Kameron Simmonds were all named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will play its final home game of the regular season on Sunday, hosting Texas A&M at 2 p.m. ET. Prior to the match, the Lady Vols will recognize 11 seniors in a Senior Day ceremony.
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