A freshman defender got offensive against Tennessee Friday night.
South Carolina rookie Natalie Aaron scored in the 74th minute, enabling the Gamecocks to beat UT 2-1 in an SEC soccer opener in Columbia, S.C.
Brittiny Rhoades and Kayla Grimsley helped set up Aaron, who was running up the left flank. She moved into the box, going one-on-one with Tennessee goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson and beating her on the ground to the right.
“I give credit to South Carolina for battling and getting two goals past the best goalkeeper in the country,’’ UT coach Angela Kelly said. “This team needs to figure out its identity and its purpose and it needs to do it very quickly. Life can challenge a group of individuals in many different ways and I believe adversity exposes character, not builds it.”
The Gamecocks (7-1-2) opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Rhoades’ corner kick was headed into the net by Blakely Mattern.
UT’s Tanya Emerson hit the top of the crossbar in the 49th minute.
The Lady Vols (3-6) tied the game in the 68th minute when forward Emily Dowd’s shot deflected in off South Carolina defender Samantha Diaz-Matosas.
Tennessee plays at No. 16 Florida on Sunday.
Volleyball: Despite winning the first game, Tennessee dropped an SEC match to LSU, 25-22, 18-25, 20-25, 23-25 in Baton Rouge, La.
“We played hard but were unable to string together long stretches of competitive play,’’ UT coach Rob Patrick said. “I give LSU a lot of credit for taking our best punch early and being able to respond. They simply played at a level higher than us for most of the match.”
Nikki Fowler led Tennessee (7-5, 2-1 SEC) with 19 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Chloe Goldman had 17 digs against LSU (6-2, 1-2).
Tennessee plays at Georgia on Sunday.
Meanwhile, UT assistant coach Katie Noble will be inducted today into the Robert Morris University athletic hall of fame.
“This is an amazing honor,’’ said Noble, who was a two-time Northeast Conference player of the year (2001, ’02).
“It is very humbling for me to be included in a class that has such wonderful student-athletes.”
Women’s Tennis: The UT doubles team of Zsofia Zubor and Natalie Pluskota finished second in the third flight of the Furman Fall Classic.
Women’s Golf: Tennessee shot an opening-round 307 and is in 14th place in the Mason Rudolph Women’s Championship at the Vanderbilt Legends Club South Course in Franklin.
UT’s 19-over-par score is 21 shots behind leader Oklahoma State. The Lady Vols are ahead of just three teams, Chattanooga, Central Florida and Stanford, in the team standings.
“This field is extremely strong, so we’re getting beat up,’’ UT coach Judi Pavon said. “Hopefully this will help us improve throughout the season.”
Lady Vols Diana Cantu and Nathalie Mansson shot 74s and are tied for 30th in the individual standings.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 4
orangebloodgmc writes:
Go get'em, Lady Vols soccer. Wish I could be there to see it. Also wish I had seen the LSU keeper's score on a 90 yd goal kick vs. BYU.
BillVol writes:
I'm starting to wonder about women's soccer.
23vols writes:
I wrote a couple of weeks ago that this program was in serious trouble. Recruiting has been poor for three years. Head coach cannot identify talent and cannot coach it. Lady Vols are at best a mediocre SEC team now. Next year will be even worse with the loss of Rossi and Johnson. The current coach made her name off one recruiting class and since that time things have gone downhill rapidly. I've seen three games this year and witnessed very poor soccer. This team plays with absoultely no organization, as if they receive no coaching. I don't see any build-up when I watch them play. Through possession and organization other teams dictate the game's flow when they play UT, unless the opponent is far inferior in athleticism. It almost looks like a pick-up game when they play. I know there has been wholesale changes in her line-up over the course of the year but when I watch them play I see alot of players who look like they are playing out of position and/or unfamiliar with the players around them (or simply lack skill to play the game well). If soccer matters at UT, someone needs to take a close look at the status and direction of the program.
BillVol writes:
Enjoyed the comments, 4. For years I have thought that Ange was the perfect coach for us, after replacing Charlie MacCabe. But I don't know anymore. We have perhaps the best soccer facility in the nation and the best admin support. And fan support. We should be doing better at this point. There is no excuse. What is frustrating is that there is likely not going to be a coaching change in the near future. Ange has led us to the Sweet 16 at least twice. Tough situation for LV soccer fans.
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