Rossi has found her scoring touch

Kylee Rossi has got her groove back.

After tallying just one goal and four points in the first seven matches of the Tennessee soccer season, the junior Lady Vol is on a tear in SEC play. Beginning with an overtime game-winner against South Carolina in the SEC opener on Sept. 27, Rossi has contributed a point in five of the last seven games, scoring a goal in four — all wins for UT.

Rossi’s sixth goal of the season came Friday night at Regal Soccer Stadium, as the No. 13 Lady Vols (10-2-2, 5-1-1) won 2-0 over Ole Miss Rebels (6-6-3, 3-3-1).

In the 50th minute, Rossi sped past the visiting defense with a 35-yard lead pass from Devon Swaim headed her way. Once Rossi gained control of the ball in the right side of the Ole Miss box, she fired a shot across Rebel goalkeeper Ann Shelton, banking home the score off the left post.

“She’s just a dynamic player. She turns people inside out,” UT coach Angela Kelly said. “That goal was world class.”

After a self-proclaimed funk to start the season, Rossi, who has a team-high 15 points on the year, feels that she is back to where she needs to be, thanks to her comrades in orange.

“Getting in a rhythm is very important,” Rossi said. “I’m just trying to finish every opportunity I get, and my teammates have put the ball right where I needed it.”

The game’s scoring was started by true freshman Julie Edwards. When Mick Imgram sailed a ball on net from the edge of the front third, Edwards met it between two Rebel defenders. A quick chip over the head of Shelton from eight yards out produced her first career goal and points in just her second start.

“It was a relief (to get my first goal),” Edwards said. “It was very exciting.”

A native of Glenmoore, Pa., Edwards is a player accustomed to scoring, having led her Downington East High School team in scoring each year of her tenure there. The transition to the collegiate level has been tough for Edwards, but the forward says the goal is a major asset in her continually elevating comfort level.

“It’s definitely a relief, because I’m back to playing how I used to be,” Edwards said. “With the way I’ve been playing and the support of the girls, I’ve just been gaining a lot more confidence.”

Kelly said while she might have been hard on the freshman at times, she expects great accomplishments from her.

“I recruited her because of her ability to set the pace and play-make,” Kelly said. “After her not playing a minute in the out-of-conference schedule, I demanded more of her, and she responded like this. This is why I recruited her — because of how she’s playing now. I’m excited for her, and she’s going to have an impact on this program.”

Tennessee hosts Mississippi State at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Lady Vols seek to avenge a 3-2 loss to the Bulldogs in front of a regional TV audience (Fox Sports Net).

“We all have a big chip on our shoulder,” Rossi said. “We are going to keep playing the way we have been, and hopefully shut them out – because we owe it to them.”