Lady Vols settle for tie; Kelly says results 'unacceptable'

A soccer tie can bring a variety of emotions, depending on how the game went.

For Tennessee Lady Vols coach Angela Kelly, Thursday's 1-1 tie with Alabama brought frustration and disappointment.

The reason was not only the manner in which Alabama tied the game in the last minute of regulation, but also the way the Lady Vols played during the entire game at Regal Stadium.

"It obviously didn't go the way we'd hoped for," said Kelly, who met with her team for approximately a half hour after the game.

"These were unacceptable results in my opinion. It's a lack of focus and we need to fix that."

During the first part of the game, Tennessee (8-8-1, 5-3-1 SEC) looked as if it would bring plenty of smiles to Kelly and the 568 fans. The Lady Vols had 11 shots on goal, to zero for Alabama.

However, only one Tennessee shot went through the goal, a short score from sophomore Devon Swaim following an assist by freshman Hannah Hut almost exactly midway through the half.

In the second half, Alabama (9-6-2, 4-4-1) played more competitively and actually had one more shot on goal than Tennessee.

Only 38 seconds remained in regulation when Alabama sophomore Grace Lawson scored off an assist by Kailey Corken.

The goal was especially disappointing to Kelly.

"The way they scored the goal perturbs me the most," she said. "We had too many people turned with their backs to the ball, and that is totally unacceptable."

Although Tennessee by then had their backs to the wall emotionally as well, they were able to hang on for at least a tie through two overtimes.

Alabama's players and coaches were noticeably happier after the game than Tennessee's, and none more than Lawson. From Hendersonville, she had played on Pope John Paul II's state championship team and once dreamed of playing for Tennessee.

"It felt absolutely amazing," she said of her goal. "I have been planning that for five years."

While Kelly was disappointed in her team, she did praise Alabama.

"I have to give the credit to Alabama, they fought," she said.