One goal enough for UT, Johnson

The Lady Vol Classic concluded Sunday afternoon at Regal Soccer Stadium, and the home team was able to take top honors.

After defeating No. 7 Penn State Friday night, the 24th-ranked Lady Vols held off the Minnesota Golden Gophers 1-0 with a penalty kick and late dominance.

“I thought they battled,” UT coach Angela Kelly said. “They exerted a lot of physical and emotional energy on Friday night’s win.”

On Friday, the Lady Vols had to play catch-up after falling behind late in the first half off what Kelly called a “soft goal,” but Tennessee made it onto the scoreboard first Sunday afternoon when freshman Devon Swaim scored on a penalty kick in the 26th minute.

After a foul just inside the Minnesota box, Swaim placed a low shot past Minnesota goalkeeper Chelsey Turner — one half of a tandem that posted the nation’s fifth-best save percentage in 2006. Turner was guessing the shot would go to the right, allowing Swaim’s slow shot in the other direction to give the Lady Vols a 1-0 lead — a lead that would prove to be enough of a cushion for Tennessee.

“It’s great to have two big wins, and I think it gives us motivation to keep working hard for the rest of the season,” UT goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson said.

Throughout the first half, both teams saw action on net with the Lady Vols holding an 11-9 advantage in the shooting department.

The best opportunity of the half for the Golden Gophers to tie the score came during the 45th minute when Angie Olson got behind the Tennessee defense and was one-on-one with Johnson. Olson’s shot from just inside the box, however, sailed over the net.

The back-and-forth action continued into the second half. But in the 62nd minute, the Lady Vols pulled away and virtually set up camp in the attacking third.

In the span of 13 minutes, the Lady Vols reeled off eight corner kicks and two free kicks. While all of the opportunities failed to yield a score, the constant bombardment appeared to leave the Gophers winded and unable to capitalize in their own offensive side of the pitch.

The Lady Vols outshot their opponent for the fourth consecutive half 9-4 and ended the game posting 20 shots to Minnesota’s 13. Kelly said Johnson provides enough insurance in net for her team to find a way to win no matter the score.

“I have the utmost confidence in her,” Kelly said. “She’s an amazing goalkeeper, and in my opinion, the best in the country. It gives your team so much confidence to have a goalkeeper like her back there.”

Despite one “soft” goal preventing Johnson from starting the season with two clean sheets, the team captain said her main motivation is to serve as a leader for her teammates.

“It’s a big honor to be voted captain by your teammates,’’ Johnson said. “For them to have that respect is a big responsibility, so I need to make sure I’m leading my team on and off the field.”

Johnson was named defensive MVP of the eighth annual event, and 2006 SEC Offensive Player of the Year Kylee Rossi was the tournament’s offensive MVP. Lady Vol midfielder Mick Imgram and defender Jordan Falcusan joined Johnson and Rossi on the all-tournament team as well.

“It’s great to come away with two wins and some great individual performances,” Kelly said. “I’m happy with where we are.”

The Lady Vols (2-0-0) will travel to Blacksburg, Va., this weekend for the Hawthorn Suites Hokie Invitational. Tennessee will play host Virginia Tech at 5:30 p.m. Friday and will face No. 22 Wake Forest at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tennessee will be back home to open SEC play against South Carolina on Sept. 28.

Notebook: No. 7 Penn State (1-1-0) — winners of nine consecutive Big Ten Conference titles — rebounded from their season-opening loss to the Lady Vols on Friday night by defeating Central Florida (1-1-0) 1-0 in Sunday’s early game.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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