University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOL VS KENTUCKY AND VANDERBILT
October 10, 2001 | Soccer
Oct. 10, 2001
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#25 Lady Vols Continue Road Swing at Eastern Division Rivals Vanderbilt and #24 Kentucky
Holding a 1-1 Southeastern Conference record after splitting its opening weekend of league play in Alabama, Tennessee (5-4) will face a pair of divisional foes this weekend. The Orange will head over to Nashville for an encounter with Vanderbilt (3-5/1-2 SEC) on Friday afternoon, followed by a contest in Lexington on Sunday against Kentucky (8-3/2-1 SEC).
UT Enjoyed Good Times in the East
The Lady Vols compiled a program-best 4-1 regular-season record against the five other SEC East squads in 2000. After a 3-0 loss to Florida to begin conference action, UT ran off wins over South Carolina (3-0), Vanderbilt (2-1 in OT), #15 Kentucky (3-2) and Georgia (4-3 in OT). Surprisingly, UT's most divisional wins prior to last season was two in '98. The Gators remain the lone East team that the Lady Vols have yet to defeat.
Orange Tumble in the Polls
After seeing their losing streak reach a season-high three matches with their 2-1 setback on the Plains to Auburn, the Lady Vols rebounded with a convincing shutout of Alabama two days later. However, the result was not enough to prevent UT from dropping nine spots in Soccer Buzz's Top 25, as Angela Kelly's club fell from 16th to 25th. The descent was even more pronounced in the NSCAA/adidas rankings, where Tennessee dipped from 18th to the receiving votes category.
Last Time Out: Stemming the Tide
Closing out its journey through the heart of Dixie, the Lady Vols held Alabama to a pair of first-half shots en route to a 3-0 halftime advantage on Oct. 7. The Tide had entered the weekend boasting the number one offense in Division I. Rookie midfielder Keeley Dowling tallied the first two scores of the afternoon, at 14:58 and 19:32, followed by junior Kim Patrick's fifth goal of the season at 21:32.
The Crimson Tide came out in the second half with the intention of climbing back into the match, but UT's defense kept Don Staley's club at bay all afternoon. Junior Cori Stevens registered seven saves in notching her second shutout of 2001.
Dowling tickled the twine at 75:54 from the combination of classmate Sue Flamini and Patrick to complete her first collegiate hat trick. Flamini finished the match with a pair of assists to push her team-leading total to five helpers.
Hats Off to Dowling
The three goals netted by Keeley Dowling versus Alabama represented the first time since Oct. 17, 1999, that a Tennessee player had recorded a hat trick against an SEC opponent. On that afternoon, forward Allison Campbell struck for a UT Complex-record four tallies in a 4-2 triumph over South Carolina.
In the Lady Vols' six-year existence, there have been a total of eight hat tricks, including a five-goal outburst by Campbell against UNC Asheville on Sept. 18, 1998. Melissa Covington, who scored three apiece in wins over South Carolina (Oct. 27, 1996) and East Tennessee State (Sept. 19, 1997), joins Campbell as the only player with more than one trick. The trio of Laura Lauter (at South Carolina on Sept. 13, 1998), Whitney Rayburn (Chattanooga on Aug. 30, 1996) and Rhian Wilkinson (UNC Asheville on Sept. 10, 2000) are in three-goal club as well.
Charting the SEC Debuts
With a goal at 88:30 at Auburn on Oct. 5, junior Kim Patrick became the first Lady Vol in four years to score in her first Southeastern Conference appearance. Back on Sept. 12, 1997, the trio comprised of Kelly Berrall, Laura Lauter and Shayna Teutsch each found the back of the net during a 3-2 overtime conquest of AU. No other players have accomplished the feat.
Watch Out for the Even Flow
Through two SEC matches, Tennessee stands at 1-1 for the fifth time in its six seasons of league competition. In 1999, the Orange broke through with victories over Auburn (5-1) and #16 Alabama (3-1) to come down the chute at 2-0.
For the record, the Lady Vols are 2-3 (.400) all-time in their third SEC match, including a 3-1 road triumph at Arkansas on Oct. 6, 2000. Ironically, one of this weekend's foes, Kentucky, is responsible for dealing UT two of the three losses. The 'Cats posted a 3-2 win on Sept. 26, 1997 and later handed the Lady Vols a 3-0 donut on Sept. 24, 1999. Both of those confrontations were in Lexington.
#5 Is En Fuego
Junior Kim Patrick has scored in her last four matches, against Atlantic Coast Conference members #7 Clemson and #1 North Carolina, as well as versus SEC rivals Auburn and Alabama. Rhian Wilkinson had a stretch of four matches in a row during the 2000 campaign in which she totalled five scores: South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU and Vanderbilt between Oct. 1-15. The school record for a goal in consecutive matches is five, set by Allison Campbell from Sept. 18-Oct. 4, 1998. Campbell also shares the standard for consecutive matches with a point with Laura Lauter. The duo's streak ran from Sept. 13-Oct. 4, 1998, and paralleled the longest winning streak in school history -- a five-match swing that featured wins over South Carolina (3-2 in OT), UNC Asheville (8-1), Xavier (4-0), Arkansas (5-0) and LSU (3-0). In a 4-3 heartbreaker to #10 Virginia on Oct. 2, 1998, Campbell had a goal and an assist and Lauter chipped in with a goal.
That's Not the Order!
Tennessee's loss to Auburn to start its nine-game SEC schedule ruined its previous pattern of winning in odd-numbered seasons and falling in evened-numbered campaigns.
Sept. 1, 1996: 4-0 defeat to #17 Vanderbilt in Knoxville
Sept. 12, 1997: 3-2 win in overtime at Auburn
Sept. 11, 1998: 4-0 defeat to #4 Florida in Gainesville
Sept. 10, 1999: 5-1 win in Knoxville over Auburn
Sept. 29, 2000: 3-0 defeat to Florida in Gainesville
Oct. 5, 2001: 2-1 defeat at Auburn
Looking into the Crystal Ball...
The Lady Vol soccer team was tabbed to place second in the SEC's Eastern Division in the coaches' poll released on Aug. 23. Florida was selected as the favorite to claim the 2001 women's soccer title in the SEC, marking the seventh consecutive year that the Gators have been picked by the coaches to win the crown. Coming off its fifth straight SEC title in 2000, UF earned nine first-place votes to earn the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, topping the Lady Vols, who received three votes.
The Gators were selected as tops in the East with 64 total points. In the West, reigning champ Ole Miss was the clear favorite with 63 points. Points were compiled on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for each division, though each coach was not allowed to vote for his or her own team. The '01 version of the poll was a lot kinder to the Lady Vols, as the team received 53 points, a far cry from the 19 points it received last year.
Covering the Commodores
Head coach Ronnie Hill is in her first season at the helm of Vanderbilt after two years at the College of Charleston. She arrived in Nashville following a 15-21-3 (.423) tenure with the Lady Cougars. She replaced Robbie Church, who accepted the top spot at Duke University. Prior to her duties at the College of Charleston, Hill was Church's assistant at UNC Charlotte, where the 49ers claimed a pair of Conference USA titles and secured the program's first NCAA berth.
Although Vandy (3-5/1-2 SEC) opened its campaign at 1-4, including one-goal defeats to Kentucky (1-0), Furman (2-1), Texas (3-2) and SMU (3-2), it has since responded to take two of three matches. The Commodores turned back Memphis, 2-1 on Sept. 26, and then were blanked by #13 Florida, 4-0, in Gainesville on Oct. 5. VU is coming off a 1-0 road win over South Carolina on Oct. 7, despite being out-shot, 17-5. Sophomore Michelle Bruntlett poked in a rebound at 28:33 to account for the winning margin, while classmate Stacee Sproul was credited with 10 saves to move her shutout total to 1.5 this season.
The Commodores were 12-9 overall last year and placed fourth in the East with a 5-4 record. After bouncing the Lady Vols from the SEC Tourney, 2-0, Vandy's season was ended by host Georgia, 2-1.
VU was crowned as the champion of the first two SEC Tournaments, in 1993 and 1994, and reached the NCAA Tournament for five straight years between 1994-1998 under former mentor Ken McDonald. Entering 2001, Vanderbilt ranked second in the all-time SEC standings with a 42-14 (.750) record. Florida occupied the top spot with a staggering 47-2-1 (.940) clip, while the Lady Vols were fourth at 22-20 (.524). The 'Dores were the last league team to cage the Gators, with a 2-0 shutout on Sept. 14, 1997.
Players in the Black and Gold to Watch
Junior forward Lizzy Johnson leads Vandy with seven points on three goals and an assist, while junior midfielder Kat Carroll (two goals, five points) is the only other player with more than one goal. Senior forward Jessie Wolfe has handed out three assists, all during a 4-0 rout of Chattanooga in VU's season opener in Nashville on Aug. 31. With 73 shots that has led to 34 points on 12 goals and 10 assists in eight matches, the 'Dores find themselves rated 12th in all four categories in the SEC.
Defensively, Coach Hill has employed the sophomore duo of Stacee Sproul and Lauren Whitt in between the pipes. Sproul has started six matches and has recorded a 0.96 goals against average, an .857 save percentage and 24 saves in 376 minutes, while Whitt has a 2.62 GAA, a .667 save percentage and 20 saves in 344 minutes. Used to playing it close, Vanderbilt maintains a 2-4 record in one-goal matches.
UT Finally Broke Through the 'Dores in 2000
When rookie sensation Rhian Wilkinson connected on a "Golden Goal" at 93:10 to help the Lady Vols edge Vanderbilt on Oct. 13, it marked the first time UT had beaten their in-state rivals in five meetings. During the squad's previous encounter, on Sept. 26, 1999, at the Vanderbilt Soccer Field, goalie Ellen Dean made a career-high 12 saves in a 3-1 loss.
In Knoxville on Oct. 16, 1998, the teams were locked in a scoreless tie for most of the afternoon. However, the eighth-ranked Commodores eeked out a 1-0 win on a goal from Asta Helgadottir at 73:23. Tennessee out-shot its guests, 16-9, but could not slip anything past Lauren Whitt.
The Lady Vols were saddled with another one-goal defeat in the 1997 season on Sept. 28, as Vandy worked overtime for a 2-1 decision. The Orange tied the match with 10:24 left in regulation on Kassie Kees' first-ever goal, but VU came out ahead 7:12 into the extra session.
The clubs first hooked up on Sept. 1, 1996 at the UT Soccer Complex, which also happened to be UT's inaugural SEC matchup. The 17th-rated Commodores left Knoxville on that afternoon with a 4-0 shutout.
Last Meeting Between Tennessee and Vanderbilt
The Lady Vols' offensive woes at the SEC Tournament continued for another year on Nov. 2, 2000, as third-seeded Tennessee came up short against sixth-seeded Vanderbilt, 2-0. The defeat marked the fourth time in a row that UT had been held scoreless at the event. The Commodores scored once each half and the VU defense limited the Orange to four shots the entire match, effectively containing SEC Freshman of the Year Rhian Wilkinson. Jen Talavera broke the ice at 11:10 off an assist from Michelle Brunlett and Vandy would later tack on an insurance goal at 78:46 by Katie Stegall to account for the final margin. Another telling stat from the outcome was that Vanderbilt attempted three corner kicks, compared to zero for the Orange and White.
Breaking Down the Offenses
Vanderbilt's season-high for goals during the first half is one, set on three occasions. Conversely, UT has yielded four scores in the first frame over the course of its nine matches -- all by North Carolina on Sept. 26. The Commodores exploded for four second-half goals to subdue Chattanooga, but has been kept off the board four times in the second stanza. The Lady Vols parlayed three goals over the final 45 minutes to a 4-2 triumph at James Madison and has been held scoreless just once in the second half, a 1-0 loss to Southern Cal on Sept. 3. Ominously, seven of UT's nine opponents have lit the lamp in the second half, the exceptions being shutouts of Rutgers (Sept. 9) and Alabama (Oct. 7).
Wildcat Tracks
Perched one spot ahead of the Lady Vols in the Soccer Buzz rankings, Kentucky is 8-3 overall and has taken two of its three SEC matchups. The Wildcats opened 2001 by claiming their first seven contests, then faltered at home against both Arizona State on Sept. 28, 2-0, and New Mexico on Sept. 30, 1-0. Last weekend, UK held off South Carolina, 1-0, before succumbing to #11 Florida, 5-1. Previously, the 'Cats pinned a 1-0 defeat on Vanderbilt in Nashville to kick off SEC action on Sept. 2. Kentucky is rated third in the Great Lakes Regional Rankings, behind Notre Dame (9-1-1) and Marquette (8-2), and sports a 5-1 record against regional opponents.
Regarded as the dean of the SEC's women's soccer coaches, Warren Lipka is now in its 10th season as the only person in charge of Kentucky's program. His overall record stands at 118-72-9 (.616) and he is 47-28-1 (.625) against league schools. Lipka has guided the 'Cats to NCAA appearances in 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999 and directed UK to the 1995 SEC Championship. He is a two-time recipient of the SEC Coach of the Year award, in '95 and '99.
Variety of Offensive Threats for Kentucky
Senior forward Susie Ledzianowski holds the team lead in points (11) and goals (five) for the Blue and White. Rookie forward Kathy Fulk (four goals, two assists) and junior midfielder Keri Boyce (three goals, four assists) have each accumulated 10 points, with senior defender Annie Gage being credited with five helpers to aid UK's scoring effort. To emphasize the unit's balance, 15 different players have found their way on to the scoring ledger, compared to nine for UT.
In the conference statistics for all matches, Kentucky is third in assists (25), is tied for fourth in points (69) with Arkansas and South Carolina, is tied for seventh in goals (22) with LSU and the Wildcats have taken 156 shots to rank eighth.
Guarding the Cage
One of the top net-minders in the SEC, senior Beth Wells has once again been charged with shackling opposing team's offenses. She has responded by allowing 11 goals in 11 matches (990 minutes) for a goals against average of 1.00. That figure represents the fifth-best in the league, slighty better than her 2000 total of 1.11 that was second in the conference. In addition, she has pitched shutouts against Vandy (1-0), Michigan State (6-0), Utah (3-0), Ohio State (2-0) and South Carolina (1-0) to pace the SEC in that department. Wells' count of 37 saves, 3.36 per match, leave her fifth in that category as well.
All-SEC Returnees
A pair of Wildcats were selected all-conference in 2000, forwards Keri Boyce and Elizabeth Ramsey. Both players are juniors this season, with Boyce currently tied for second in scoring with 10 points on a team-best 23 shots. Meanwhile, Ramsey has yet to see action this fall after suffering an injury.
Trying to Erase Some Bad Memories of Lexington
The UK Soccer Complex is one of four opposing SEC venues in which the Lady Vols have not tasted victory. Tennessee dropped a 3-2 decision on Sept. 26, 1997, and later endured a 3-0 shutout loss to the Wildcats on Sept. 24, 1999.
The Orange will be attempting to snap losing skeins at Eastern Division rivals Georgia (0-3) and Vanderbilt (0-2) this season, but stopping a three-game slide at Florida will have to wait until Oct. 18, 2002, at the earliest. On the positive side, the Lady Vols ended their two-game hiccup in Tuscaloosa, Ala., last Sunday afternoon.
'Cats Seem to Enjoy a Close Shave
Many teams shudder at the thought of playing tight matches, while others thrive in the pressure situations. Half of Kentucky's eight triumphs have been by one goal (2-1 over Marshall on Aug. 31, 1-0 at Vanderbilt on Sept. 2, 2-1 at Michigan on Sept. 7 and 1-0 at South Carolina on Oct. 5). The Lobos of New Mexico saddled UK with a 1-0 defeat on Sept. 30 in the final match of the Traditonal Bank Invitational in Lexington.
The Streak Was Broken in 2000
Before the largest crowd of the season at home, Tennessee completed a weekend sweep of Eastern Division foes with a 3-2 upset win over #15 Kentucky on Oct. 15, 2000. The win came on the heels of UT's thrllling 2-1 conquest of Vanderbilt. Freshman Marie-Eve Nault headed in a corner kick taken by senior Rachael Newkirk with 26 seconds left for the game-winner. The Canadian's second tally of the afternoon marked her third match-winning goal in the Orange's last four matches. The victory marked UT's first over the Wildcats in five meetings and enabled the Lady Vols to move into second place overall in the SEC with a 5-1 league mark. Laura Lauter Smith added a goal to become the program's all-time leading scorer with 74 points on 29 goals and 16 assists.
Hoping for a Different Result
As mentioned previously, Tennessee has endured two disappointing visits to Lexington in its existence. On Sept. 26, 1997, the Orange found itself on the short end of a 3-2 margin after blowing a 2-0 lead and giving up a penalty kick taken by Brooke Hergesell with only 2:57 remaining in regulation.
Defender Heather Redecker notched the first (of two) goal of her career at 10:46 with a blast from 40-yards out to give UT the advantage, and forward Debbie Markovich scored from Kendyl Michner and Shayna Teutsch to increase the Lady Vols' lead at 15:05. UK answered with goals by Kim LaBelle (30:33) and Jamie Dellbringge (38:03) to square the match in the first half and the squads remained deadlocked until Hergesell beat Kim Hull for the decisive goal.
Scorless at the intermission on Sept. 24, 1999, the Wildcats erupted for three scores within 20 minutes to send the Lady Vols home with a 3-0 defeat. Keri Boyce followed up her own shot at 47:32 to open the scoring, Jen Reese tucked a breakaway into the net at 54:00 and Dellbringge headed in a free kick taken by Annie Gage at 65:25 to seal the shutout. Beth Wells had eight saves, mostly on the seven shots taken by Allison Campbell, to keep the Lady Vols off the board. Ellen Dean made seven saves in net for UT before being lifted with 19 minutes remaining in favor of Sarah Shivley.
Fabulous Frosh Flamini Finagles First Month Lady Vol Accolade
After an outstanding debut in which she led the Lady Vol soccer team in scoring and propelled her squad into the national polls for the first time in the program's six-year history, freshman Sue Flamini was named as the EdSouth Athlete of the Month for September in a vote taken by the media relations office. The midfielder became just the second soccer player to earn the accolade, as current sophomore Rhian Wilkinson picked up the honor in October 2000. The Cranford, N.J., native had provided an instant impact for the Orange, pacing UT's offensive attack with team-bests in points (11), goals (four) and assists (three) during the month.
"While Sue has surpassed my expectations thus far, there is still an incredible amount for her to improve upon and learn in order to reach the next level," said Lady Vol head coach Angela Kelly. "If she continues to progress at the speed she is now, she has the potential to become one of the dominating midfielders nationally. Sue is even more talented than I thought she was throughout the recruiting process, which is a very exciting realization. Her desire to be the best is what will allow her to become the greatest player she can be."
Record Crowd Watched Tar Heels Pick Up Another Win
Top-ranked North Carolina, winners of 16 of the 19 NCAA Tournaments, made its second-ever visit to Knoxville on Sept. 26, and left town with a 5-2 decision over the host Lady Vols. After UNC tallied four goals in the opening 45 minutes, the Orange scored twice in the second frame to finalize the margin. The goals marked the first time in 2001 that the 'Heels did not shut out their opponent. In fact, UNC has since blanked Auburn (2-0) and UAB (2-0) to boost its ledger to 8-0.
After the match, Angela Kelly, who played at UNC from 1991-94, said it was fun to go against her former coach, Anson Dorrance.
"It's always exciting. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Anson. He's kind of the Dean Smith of women's soccer."
Dorrance said the Lady Vols were a reflection of how Kelly played at UNC.
"We told this to our girls at the pregame, we said 'If this team plays anything like Angie played for us we're going to be in for a heck of a game', and that's exactly what they did. They reflected Angie's heart and her tenacity and her work ethic on the field."
Strolling Through the Turnstiles
A standing-room only crowd of 3,042 crammed the UT Soccer Complex for the encounter between the Lady Vols and Tar Heels. While the capacity for the stadium is listed at 1,200, Tennessee had previously drawn 2,631 for its first match in school history against Chattanooga on Aug. 30, 1996, and had 2,091 fans turn out for Carolina's previous visit on Oct. 4, 1998. Sept. 26th marked the eighth time in 48 matches at home that UT has cracked the 1,000-fan mark.
Sweet Redemption for Patrick
In snapping North Carolina's scoreless streak at 410:32 with a successful penalty kick on Sept. 26, junior forward Kim Patrick had reason to celebrate her third goal of 2001. The Pleasanton, Calif., native earned a pair of championship rings as a member of the Tar Heels in 1999 and 2000 and was facing her former teammates for the first time. In addition, Patrick had been stymied on a PK by Clemson keeper Katie Carson early in the second half of the Lady Vols' double-overtime loss to the Lady Tigers on Sept. 23. Tennessee had also never scored on its home turf against the 'Heels, after suffering a 6-0 loss on Oct. 4, 1998 and having fallen behind 5-0 in the teams' meeting last Wednesday.
Ranked Foes at Every Turn
On Sept. 26, #1 North Carolina became the fifth ranked team that the Lady Vols have faced this year. The defending national champions used a four-goal barrage in the first half en route to a 5-2 triumph over the Orange.
Previously, UT upset #13 Brigham Young (2-1) and was blanked by #19 Southern Cal (1-0) during its opening weekend in Provo, Utah. On Sept. 20, UT stopped 16th-rated Wake Forest (2-1), but later came up short in the second overtime period against seventh-ranked Clemson, 4-3, on Sept. 23.
In 2000, UT played just two members of the Top 25 at the time of the match all season, falling to #1 North Carolina (6-1 on Sept. 3) before upending SEC rival #15 Kentucky, 3-2, on Oct. 15.
Future Tennessee foes that are found within the various polls include league opponents Florida (#11) and Kentucky (#24). UT will take on the Wildcats in Lexington on Sunday, and host the five-time defending SEC champion Gators next Friday night in a match to be telecast on FOX Sports Net South.
Wilkinson Lost for Remainder of 2001 Campaign
The Lady Vols received some unfortunate news on Sept. 25 when it was determined that sophomore forward Rhian Wilkinson suffered a broken left foot during the Lady Vols' contest against seventh-ranked Clemson. Tests conducted by the UT Medical Staff confirmed the injury along her fifth metatarsal, sidelining Wilkinson for the remainder of UT's action this season.
The Baie d'Urfe, Quebec, native had started all six matches up front for the Lady Vols and had tallied goals in victories over James Madison and Rutgers and was credited with the winning assist in Tennessee's season-opening upset of #13 Brigham Young.
Patrick Garners Some Recognition
After notching a goal and a pair of assists and attempting a school-tying 12 shots in the gut-wrenching loss to #7 Clemson on Sept. 23, junior forward Kim Patrick was named as the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week in a vote taken by the media relations staff on Sept. 25.
"I am very excited for Kim that she is finally starting to get into a rhythm as a new Lady Vol," said head coach Angela Kelly. "I have the feeling she still has many more dynamic games ahead of her. Kim has an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time and is a consummate goal-scorer."
The transfer from North Carolina paces the Big Orange with 45 shots and is now in a first-place tie on the squad in scoring with Keeley Dowling, as each player has 14 points on five goals and four helpers.
Last season, Patrick registered 24 points on nine goals and six assists and was named all-tournament at the Women's College Cup for the second straight campaign. As a rookie in '99, she led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring with 42 points and in goals with 18 and earned a plethora of individual accolades. The forward was tabbed an Honorable Mention All-American by College Soccer Online, a Soccer Buzz first-team Freshman All-America selection, a second-team All-Southeast Region choice by Soccer Buzz and she was selected to Soccer Buzz's Southeast Region All-Freshman Team.
Interesting Turn of Events
Before Angela Kelly took over the reins of the Lady Vol soccer team, the Orange and White was a dismal 2-18 (.100) against schools ranked in the Top 25. Since the start of the 2000 campaign, UT has forged a mark of 3-4 (.429), with wins over #13 Brigham Young (2-1 on Sept. 1, 2001), #15 Kentucky (3-2 on Oct. 15, 2000) and #16 Wake Forest (2-1 on Sept. 20, 2001). During that span, Kelly's charges have fallen to #1 North Carolina (6-1 on Sept. 3, 2000 and 5-2 on Sept. 26, 2001), #7 Clemson (4-3 in double overtime on Sept. 23, 2001) and #19 Southern Cal (1-0 on Sept. 3, 2001).
New Faces Getting It Done for Big Orange
With seven newcomers in its starting lineup, people have certainly seen a different Tennessee women's soccer team than in recent seasons. In fact, the quintet of Keeley Dowling (6G, 2A, 14 pts.), Sue Flamini (4G, 5A, 13 pts.), Kim Patrick (5G, 4A, 14 pts.), Lyndsey Patterson (1G, 1A, 3 pts.) and Kayla Lockaby (1G, 1A, 3 pts.) accounts for 81 percent of the team's goals (17 of 21), 76 percent of the points (47 of 62) and 65 percent of the club's assists (13 of 20).
UT Uses the "Sixth Sense"
The Lady Vol soccer team has been fortunate to taste the fruits of victory in its openers at the Tennessee Soccer Complex. Here's a rundown of the Knoxville clan's activity over the six season debuts before its home crowd:
Aug. 30, 1996: 7-0 rout of Chattanooga in what was the first-ever match for the Lady Vols. Whitney Rayburn's seven-point effort paved the way for the easy win, as UT out-shot the Mocs by a 33-1 margin.
Aug. 29, 1997: 3-0 blanking of Memphis behind a goal and an assist by midfielder Holly Kimble and a shared shutout by Kim Hull and Sarah Shivley.
Sept. 1, 1998: 5-1 triumph over Chattanooga that featured five different goal-scorers and four points by Shayna Teutsch (1G, 2A).
Sept. 5, 1999: 4-2 edging of Marquette as Laura Lauter found the back of the net twice and Allison Campbell chipped in with a goal and an assist.
Sept. 1, 2000: 5-1 caging of the Arizona Wildcats as Tara Minnax scored the opening goal and handed out a pair of assists. Rhian Wilkinson also had two helpers in addition to scoring her first goal at home.
Sept. 20, 2001: 2-1 decision over Wake Forest behind solid goalkeeping provided by junior Cori Stevens and steady defense by Carie and Tracy Swibas, as well as Lindsey Wiest. Rookies Keeley Dowling and Kayla Lockaby scored in their home debuts.
Flamini Racked Up Individual Accolades
Having keyed the Lady Vols' drive to the crown of the JMU/Comfort Inn Invite, freshman Sue Flamini was named as the SEC Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 10. The midfielder became only the second UT rookie to earn kudos from the league office, as current sophomore Rhian Wilkinson was chosen on Oct. 30, 1999, following match-winners against Georgia and Northwestern.
The midfielder from Cranford, N.J., was also named as the UT Daily Beacon's Athlete of the Week, the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week and she earned a spot on Soccer Buzz Magazine's Elite Team of the Week.
In victories over host James Madison (4-2) and Rutgers (3-0), Flamini registered six points on two goals and a pair of assists and was chosen as the event's MVP. The 5-3 midfielder notched a goal and two helpers versus the Dukes, while her corner kick to classmate Keeley Dowling at 78:25 served as the go-ahead tally. Flamini later added an unassisted effort with 3:04 remaining to provide the Lady Vols with the two-goal margin.
Dazzling Debut
Head coach Angie Kelly started seven newcomers, including five freshmen, in the Lady Vols' season-opening upset of #13 BYU on Sept. 1. Remarkably, two of these rookies scored against the Cougars, becoming the fifth and sixth UT players to tally in her first outing. Keeley Dowling tickled the twine at 5:18, while Sue Flamini beat keeper Jennifer Waldron at 78:49. Dowling's score was the earliest for a rookie, barely topping Whitney Rayburn's successful shot at 5:35 versus Chattanooga on Aug. 30, 1996.
Block-Buster Rookie Premieres
Whitney Rayburn -- Aug. 30, 1996 -- Notched a hat trick (goals scored at 5:35, 23:04, 28:02) and an assist in UT's first match in school history, a 7-0 drubbing of Chattanooga. 2,631 spectators attended the contest at the UT Soccer Complex, an attendance record for the Lady Vols until Sept. 26, 2001.
Melissa Covington -- Aug., 30, 1996 -- Netted a goal and had a pair of helpers in the whitewash of UTC. The Nashville native put up 22 points on nine goals and four assists in her first year.
Tara Minnax -- Sept. 1, 1998 -- Delivered a goal at 19:20 in a 5-1 win over Chattanooga by connecting from 18 yards out. The current Lady Vol senior is taking a medical redshirt in 2001.
Allison Campbell -- Sept. 1, 1998 -- The "Franchise" would jump-start her first season by converting a feed from Laura Lauter at 76:36 versus Chattanooga. The forward would go on to set season scoring records in points (46), goals (17) and assists (12) en route to second-team All-SEC and second-team Freshman All-America accolades.
Keeley Dowling -- Sept. 1, 2001 -- One of the most highly-regarded Lady Vol rookies ever, the midfielder from Carmel, Ind., received a direct kick from Jen Laughridge that propelled UT to a 1-0 advantage over 13th-rated BYU.
Sue Flamini -- Sept. 1, 2001 -- The midfielder unleashed a rocket from just outside the box to give the Orange a 2-0 cushion over the Cougars. The goal was set up by last season's top rookie, Rhian Wilkinson.
2000 Season Rewind
The Lady Vols are coming off their most successful campaign in school history. Projected to finish 12th in the Southeastern Conference preseason poll released by the coaches, the Big Orange tied a program best with 12 victories and produced a second-place finish in the league with a 7-2 mark. UT's previous high water points in SEC action were five wins (1998 & 1999) and a fourth-place standing in '98.
Unfortunately, the season ended on a down note for the Lady Vols, as they were blanked by Vanderbilt at the SEC Tourney, 2-0. Tennessee wound up tied for 10th in Soccer Buzz's Central Region poll.
Crew Chief of the Lady Vols
A new era for the University of Tennessee women's soccer program was ushered in on Jan. 4, 2000, as Angela Kelly was promoted to become the second head coach in school history. She is 17-12 (.586) overall and 8-3 (.727) in SEC play.
Serving as an assistant at the inception of the Lady Vol program, Kelly arrived at UT in January 1996 after a distinguished playing career at the University of North Carolina. While in Chapel Hill, she helped the 'Heels to four national championships and a staggering record of 97-1-1. Kelly's only loss as a collegian came at the hands of Duke and her newest assistant coach, Samantha Baggett.
Here Come the Blue-Chippers!
Tennessee's recruiting class was rated fifth in the nation according to Soccer Buzz Magazine. Coach Kelly signed four student-athletes to letters of intent for the upcoming season and boosted the team's offense with the transfer of Kim Patrick from NCAA champion North Carolina.
"We are extremely pleased with our class - not only are the incoming players very athletic and talented, they are tremendous people who will become great spokeswomen for the University of Tennessee and our sport," said Kelly. "In total, we are bringing nine players, with the four scholarship signees having received national recognition as high school and club standouts. However, I expect the five walk-ons to contribute significantly in different ways. I am excited to see the immediate impact that this freshman class will make on our squad."
Editor Randy Diggs wrote: "The Lady Vols jump into soccer's elite with an eye-popping class of recruits. Keeley Dowling, Sue Flamini and Kayla Lockaby all were Parade Magazine and NSCAA All-Americans as well as U.S. Youth National Team players. UNC transfer Kim Patrick makes Tennessee an instant threat to anyone's schedule."
Virginia was hailed as having the top class, while UNC, Texas and Santa Clara rounded out the top four. Georgia was the next highest SEC school found in the ratings, as the Bulldogs came in at #16.
Youth Movement Continues for UT
During the spring workouts, Tennessee had four players listed on the active roster who would be seniors during the 2001-02 school year. Now, the number of healthy individuals is one: Sharon Holmes. Projected starting goalkeeper Ellen Dean broke her leg over Memorial Day weekend, midfielder Tara Minnax re-injured the knee in which she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament last fall, and goalkeeper Kim Sgarlata separated her shoulder at the outset of double-sessions in mid-August. Dean and Minnax will be lost for the campaign, while Sgarlata is out indefinitely. As a result, Kelly and her staff are working with a group that includes three juniors, eight sophomores and eight freshmen.
Stingy "D"
Over 20 matches in 2000, the Orange and White's defense yielded just seven goals within the opening 45 minutes and did not allow any opponent to score more than once. Through six matches in 2001, Tennessee had yet to surrender a goal during the first half. BYU scored at 85:41 (Kim Devine), USC netted the lone goal of the match at 72:31 (Shannon Cross), James Madison tallied its scores at 52:51 (Marisa Lemme) and 63:06 (Jamie Miller), Rutgers was blanked, Wake Forest connected at 78:53 (A.B. Robbins) and Clemson delivered goals at 48:41 (Deliah Arrington), 66:28 (Tatum Clowney), 86:48 (Arrington) and 115:33 (Paige Ledford). However, that all changed on Sept. 26, when powerful North Carolina scorched the nets for four goals in the first half: 6:12 (Maggie Tomecka), 16:18 (Jena Kluegel), 17:19 (Anne Morrell) and 40:15 (Kluegel). Since that outing, UT has prevented Auburn from lighting the lamp until the second frame and did not allow Alabama to score at all.
Gaining International Exposur
e Freshman midfielder Keeley Dowling serves as the captain of the United States Under-19 team, while sophomore forward Rhian Wilkinson and sophomore midfielder Marie-Eve Nault are members of the Canadian Youth National Team. In addition, rookie midfielders Sue Flamini and Kayla Lockaby are on the U.S. Under-18 contingent. Until this group arrived on the scene, Lady Vol Kendyl Michner had been the only player to represent UT on the national stage, as she competed for the Mexican National Team in the 1999 World Cup.
Around the League This Weekend
Below is a composite schedule of league competition this weekend:
Oct. 12: South Carolina at Arkansas, Duke at Florida, Georgia at Kentucky, Alabama at Ole Miss, Auburn at Miss. State
Oct. 14: Florida at Arkansas, Georgia at Vanderbilt, South Carolina at LSU, Alabama at Mississippi State, Auburn at Ole Miss
Stevens Among the Conference Leaders
Starting goalkeeper Cori Stevens has totaled 54 saves to rank first within the SEC in that category as of Oct. 9. The junior is not ranked in goals against average (1.72) and is tied with three other players for sixth in shutouts with blankings of Rutgers and Alabama. Tennessee's Ellen Dean, sidelined for 2001 while recovering from a broken leg, established a single-season record in 2000 with 97 saves. Dean placed third in the league in saves, behind Georgia's Nicole Williams (122) and UF's Jordan Kellgren (106).
Dowling Dashes Her Way Up the Charts
Boosted by her hat trick against Alabama on Oct. 7, freshman midfielder Keeley Dowling is tied with Florida's Andi Sellers and Kelley Visentin for the conference lead with three goals in SEC affairs. However, the Gators have played four matches and UT has competed just twice. Dowling's six points rank her third in the league behind UF's Sellers (eight) and Abby Wambach (seven). In overall matches, Dowling is seventh in goals with six and can be found tied for eighth in points (14) with teammate Kim Patrick. Meanwhile, rookie Sue Flamini is 10th in points (13) and joins several other players in fifth with five assists.
Scoring When It's Needed Most
Four players have been responsible for Tennessee's five match-winning goals so far in 2001. Freshman Keeley Dowling has notched the winning scores against James Madison (Sept. 7) and Alabama (Oct. 7), rookie Sue Flamini connected against #13 Brigham Young (Sept. 1), junior Kim Patrick did the honors in the whitewash of Rutgers (Sept. 9) and freshman Kayla Lockaby's first career goal was the difference in UT's 2-1 edging of #16 Wake Forest (Sept. 20).
Homestand on the Horizon
This weekend's venture to Nashville and Lexington will mark the Lady Vols' final extended trip until the SEC Tournament in Baton Rouge, La., over Nov. 8-11. The Big Orange will entertain league brethren Florida (Oct. 19), South Carolina (Oct. 21), Arkansas (Oct. 26) and LSU (Oct. 28) to round out the month of October. UT will meet archrival Georgia in Athens to conclude the regular season on Friday night, Nov. 2.
Current Streaks and Trends
The Lady Vols are 3-1 on an opponent's home field this season, having defeated #13 BYU (2-1), James Madison (4-2) and Alabama (4-0), while falling to Auburn (2-1)...UT will be looking to improve upon its all-time mark of 11-13 (.458) in SEC road action...The Big Orange's 2001 opponents hold a combined record of 114-56-10 (.689) entering this week's play...The Lady Vols return home next weekend for a pair of televised matches...On Friday night, five-time SEC champion #11 Florida makes its way to Knoxville for a tilt to be broadcast by FOX Sports Net South as the league's Match of the Week...Two days later, South Carolina visits for a contest that will be shown on Comcast Sports Southeast.
Seeking Those Elusive Wins
UT has yet to emerge victorious in either Nashville or Lexington, having fallen to Vanderbilt and Kentucky twice apiece on the road since 1996. The Orange picked up its first win at Alabama on Sunday, 4-0.
Reversal of Fortune
Last season signified the Lady Vols' first-ever wins over both the Commodores (2-1 in sudden-death) and Wildcats (3-2), as each affair went to the final horn.
Looking for Some Payback
Vanderbilt ended Tennessee's NCAA Tournament hopes in 2000 with a 2-0 shutout at the SEC Tourney in Athens, Ga., on Nov. 2. The 'Dores were seeded sixth, while the Lady Vols had earned the third seed after claiming seven of nine league matches during the regular season.
