Portland blocks Lady Vols from advancing, 3-0

PORTLAND, Ore. — The elusive berth in the NCAA College Cup quarterfinals remains out of reach for the University of Tennessee women’s soccer team.

The Lady Vols ended their season in the Sweet 16 on Saturday as powerful University of Portland used two early goals as a springboard to a 3-0 third-round victory in front of 4,841 at Merlo Field.

No. 2 seed Portland (18-3-0), which got two goals from Michelle Enyeart and another from Natalie Budge, could have won by an even bigger margin had it not been for a spectacular game in goal by Tennessee junior Jaimel Johnson. She finished with 12 saves.

Enyeart’s second goal, in the first two minutes of the second half, finished off the No. 3 seeded Lady Vols (15-5-2), who were outshot 28-8 in their futile bid to win a first-ever berth in the Elite Eight. Instead, the Pilots will advance to the fourth round.

Tennessee had a rough first half. And if not for Johnson’s spectacular play in goal, it could have been worse.

The Lady Vols, who had outscored opponents 12-6 in the first half prior to Saturday, gave up two Portland goals in the first 17½ minutes, and easily could have trailed by four of five goals at that point as the Pilots staged an offensive clinic.

They bombarded the Lady Vols goal with 12 shots in the first 23 minutes, with Johnson constantly busy leaping, diving and sliding as she made seven saves.

Most obviously were not the pedestrian variety as the Pilots displayed the talent that earned them the West Coast Conference championship.

Johnson had nine saves by halftime, with Portland holding a lopsided 20-3 shot advantage.

Lady Vols defender Sarah Jackyra rescued Johnson in the first 12 minutes, clearing a Portland shot off the line. It was a hint of what was to come.

Tennessee midfielder Tanya Emerson was helped from the field after being kicked in the left leg in the 13th minute, but she quickly returned.

Three minutes later, Portland’s Enyeart dribbled the ball diagonally into the 18-yard box, cut back and fired a 17-yard shot just inside the right post.

In another two minutes, it was 2-0 as Budge knocked in a rebound of a failed clearance by the defense. Johnson had saved a shot by Sophie Schmidt, but Budge pounced on the loose ball and scored easily from four yards.

Kylee Rossi got off Tennessee’s first shot, which was high, in the first three minutes, but it was another 39 minutes before the Lady Vols unleashed their second shot.