University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOL SOCCER VS. GEORGIA - GAME NOTES
October 31, 2001 | Soccer
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Oct. 31, 2001
16th-Ranked Lady Vols Head to Georgia for Regular-Season Finale
With a chance to clinch its first Southeastern Conference Eastern Division crown with a victory over Georgia, UT will put its school-record seven-match winning streak on the line in Athens against the Bulldogs (11-4-1/6-2 SEC).
Walking the Fine Line
If the Orange can defeat the Dawgs, it will assume the top seed for the SEC Tournament to be held in Baton Rouge, La., over Nov. 8-11. Should Georgia come out on top, Florida would claim the number one seed and the Red and Black would seize the third seed, dropping UT down to the fourth slot. The second seed automatically goes to the Western Division champion, either Ole Miss or Mississippi State. A tie between the Lady Vols and Bulldogs would mean that UT would earn the third position.
UT Holds Steady in the Polls
Despite a pair of victories over Arkansas (3-1) and LSU (3-1), the Lady Vols reamined in the same neighborhood within the national polls released on Tuesday. Tennessee stayed at No. 16 in the Soccer Buzz Magazine Top 25 to match its highest position in the six-year existence of the program, initially reached on Sept. 10 of this season. The Orange stayed at 17th in the NSCAA/adidas ratings.
Within each publication's Central Region Top 10, Tennessee held down the fourth spot, behind the Big 12 trio of #7 Texas (11-3), #11 Nebraska (13-3-1) and #14 Texas A&M (10-3-1), respectively.
Last Time Out: Seventh Heaven on Senior Day
Tennessee notched a pair of goals 37 seconds apart in the first half against visiting LSU on Sunday afternoon en route to a 3-1 caging of the Tigers. UT held a commanding 23-4 edge in shots, but could not bury more offensive chances in picking up its seventh decision in a row.
"A win is a win, no matter what the score happens to be," said head coach Angela Kelly. "I am happy with the result but we have a developing problem of not taking advantage of our opportunities. Even though we out-shot LSU today, we need to be able to put the ball in the net more often."
Junior forward Kim Patrick delivered her 10th of the campaign at 7:04 from classmate Jen Laughridge, then sophomore Marie-Eve Nault nailed her second tally in as many matches at 7:41 from 20 yards from senior Sharon Holmes. After LSU pulled to within 2-1 at 78:22, UT rookie Sue Flamini hammered a direct kick with 6:33 remaining to finalize the margin. The Lady Vols celebrated senior goalkeeper Kim Sgarlata and Holmes in pregame festivities.
There's Something About Kim
Everywhere people turned last week in the women's soccer world, there seemed to be some mention of Lady Vol junior Kim Patrick. As a result of her dramatic header in overtime that enabled UT to topple Florida's SEC winning streak at 50 matches, the forward was named as the league's Player of the Week, the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week and she was chosen to Soccer America's and Soccer Buzz Magazine's Teams of the Week.
No stranger to being involved in big-time goals, Patrick assisted on the match-winner for North Carolina in the 1999 NCAA final against Notre Dame.
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 23-12 (.657) overall and 14-3 (.824) 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 assistant coach, Samantha Baggett.
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 (9G, 4A, 22 pts.), Sue Flamini (6G, 6A, 18 pts.), Kim Patrick (10G, 7A, 27 pts.), Lyndsey Patterson (2G, 4A, 8 pts.) and Kayla Lockaby (2G, 2A, 6 pts.) accounts for 83 percent of the team's goals (29 of 35), 78 percent of the points (81 of 104) and 68 percent of the club's assists (23 of 34).
A Perfect Ten
Although USC halted junior Kim Patrick's seven-match goal-scoring streak on Oct. 21, the crafty forward has since increased her skein of consecutive matches with a point to 10. Over that span, Patrick has amassed 24 points on nine goals and six helpers. She shattered the previous standard of six matches held by the duo of Allison Campbell and Laura Lauter in the 1998 season.
Celebrating the Seniors
Tennessee entered the campaign hoping to receive major contributions from its quartet of seniors. However, goalie Ellen Dean and midfielder Tara Minnax were sidelined with season-ending injuries before the year kicked off. Midfielder Sharon Holmes has participated in eight matches and picked up assists against Alabama and LSU, while keeper Kim Sgarlata saw her first action of the year against the Tigers after being plagued by an injured shoulder. The net-minder did not record any saves but earned the win versus the Bayou Bengals.
A Class of Her Own
With 27 points on 10 goals and seven assists, Kim Patrick now fills the top spot in points and goals in a single season by a Lady Vol junior. Her seven helpers leave her tied with Shayna Teutsch's standard set in 1998. In addition, Patrick's three match-winners and 68 shots are new records. Only one Tennessee player has ever been named first-team All-SEC, midfielder Kelly Berrall (2000).
Overtime Was Golden for the Lady Vols
Tennessee's upset of No. 8 Florida on Oct. 19 represented several important milestones for the Lady Vols:
- first win over the Gators after six consecutive defeats since 1996
- first win over a Top 10 team, ending a 15-match losing skid
- first time UT has tallied OT match-winners in consecutive outings
- first time the squad has been five games over .500 since the '98 season, when it was 12-7 (only second time ever)
- first time Florida had lost to an SEC foe since Sept. 14, 1997 (Vanderbilt)
- first time UT had not used a substitute in an entire match
Hope the Fans Didn't Blink, Otherwise They Missed It
When freshman forward Lyndsey Patterson tickled the twine 29 seconds into the match against the Gators, her score signified UT's quickest goal to start a contest. Previously, midfielder Kendyl Michner's goal at 1:16 at Chattanooga on Sept. 1, 1997, stood as the mark. The goal was the fastest surrendered by Florida, moving past a tally by North Carolina's Rakel Karvelsson at 0:37 on Aug. 29, 1997.
Success on the Small Screen
UT's outings against #8 Florida and South Carolina were televised, marking yet another first for head coach Angela Kelly and her team. FOX Sports Net South carried the Lady Vols/Gators tilt as SEC-TV's Match of the Week, while Comcast Sports Southeast carried UT's encounter against the Gamecocks. With the pair of decisions, the Big Orange increased its TV mark to 6-1 (.857) all-time, including a perfect 5-0 at home.
A Vote for the Defense by Soccer Buzz
UT goalkeeper Cori Stevens received the first honor of her collegiate career on Oct. 22 when she was named to the Soccer Buzz National Elite Team of the Week. The junior's accolade was based on matches played the weekend of Oct. 12-14, when UT turned back Eastern Division rivals Vanderbilt and #24 Kentucky. Soccer Buzz did not release the information previously due to a foul-up. "Cori has surpassed all of my expectations with her solid play in the back," said second-year Lady Vol mentor Angela Kelly. "She has kept us in many, many matches this season. If it weren't for her, we would not be enjoying this type of success. I look forward to Cori's continued top performances as the season winds down."
Playing in a driving rainstorm in Nashville on Oct. 12, Stevens limited the Commodores to one goal in the Orange's 2-1 decision that marked UT's first win at Vandy's facility. Two days later, the Greensboro, N.C., native rose to the occasion to register a career-high 12 saves to pick up a 1-0 shutout of the 24th-ranked Wildcats in double-overtime.
After sitting out the 2000 campaign with a variety of injuries following her transfer from the University of Massachusetts, Stevens has been solid between the pipes this season for UT. The junior has responded with a 10-4 record, the best start in the six-year existence of the program, and boasts a 1.36 goals against average and an .810 save percentage. She has delivered shutouts of Rutgers, Alabama and UK and leads the Southeastern Conference with 85 saves.
Ranked Foes at Every Turn
On. Oct. 19, eighth-rated Florida became the seventh ranked team that the Lady Vols have faced this year. With Kim Patrick's heroics in the overtime triumph, UT nudged its record to 4-3 (.571) against programs ranked in the Top 25 at the time of the match. Previously, UT upset #13 BYU (2-1) and was upended 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. Powerful #1 North Carolina handed the Orange a 5-2 loss in Knoxville on Sept. 26. On Oct. 14, the Orange dealt #24 Kentucky a 1-0 defeat in double overtime.
Kelly Guides Lady Vols to Impressive SEC Campaign
Through eight SEC matches, Tennessee stands at 7-1 and is in position to nab its record eighth conference win. Turning back Arkansas on Oct. 26, 3-1, helped the Lady Vols reach the SEC Tournament for the fifth time in the six years of the program: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The squad is still looking for that elusive postseason victory though.
Bulldog Banter
Georgia will complete its five-match homestand with its Senior Night against the Lady Vols. The 'Dogs have captured nine of their last 11 matches since a 9-0 loss to #1 North Carolina on Sept. 21. UGA is 6-2 in the Eastern Division, coming off recent routs of LSU (5-0) and Arkansas (6-1) last weekend in Athens. The Red and Black were defeated by divisional foes Vanderbilt (2-1 on Oct. 14) and Florida (4-1 on Oct. 21). Georgia posted a 1-0 win at Auburn on Oct. 7, while the Tigers handed UT its lone SEC loss with a 2-1 edging on Oct. 5. A 1989 graduate of Massachusetts, Sue Patberg is in her second season in charge of the Dawgs. She is 22-13-3 (.618) at UGA and is 119-52-13 (.682) in nine years as a collegiate coach. After a 4-4-1 SEC mark and a fifth-place East finish in 2000, the seventh-seeded Bulldogs upset West champion Ole Miss (2-0) and Vanderbilt (2-1) to reach the SEC Championship match on their home field. However, Florida used a 2-0 shutout to take the league's event for the fifth year in a row.
Bulldogs to Watch
Senior forward Amy Berbary leads Georgia with 17 points on eight goals and one assist. In conference play, she has managed goals against Alabama (two), Arkansas, Kentucky and LSU to account for 10 points. Junior Andrea Velasco, who transferred to Georgia from Florida in the spring of 2000, has contributed 12 points on four goals and four assists. The midfielder came up with a pair of scores in last Friday night's romp of LSU. Rookie midfielder Elizabeth Metherell has burst on to the scene with 11 points on three goals and a team-best five assists. Fellow rookie Tricia McKee (3G, 3A, 9 pts.) is tied with Berbary with three match-winning goals.
Rookie Ashley Lindley (7-3) has started 13 matches, covering a shade under 1,000 minutes. She has made 38 saves and yielded 14 goals for save percentage of .731 and a goals against average of 1.26. She was chosen as the SEC's Player of the Week on Oct. 9 after registering road wins over Alabama and Auburn. Meanwhile, sophomore Christine Bowers (1-1) has played in 10 outings, with three starts, spanning 480 minutes, with a GAA of 1.88 and 17 saves and a .630 save percentage.
Doubling Up
With its 5-0 waxing of LSU, the Bulldogs earned their seventh straight double-digit win season in the seven-year history of their women's soccer program. UGA is 87-43-11 (.656) all-time, with a 33-22-3 (.595) SEC clip. The Dawgs are looking to match their best finish of second in the Eastern Division, established in 1996 under former head coach Bill Barker. The Bulldogs have placed fourth in 1995 and 1998, were fifth in 1999 and 2000 and were sixth in 1998.
Tennessee Still on Short End of Series With the Dawgs
Friday night's meeting marks the sixth time that the Lady Vols and Bulldogs have met on the pitch. Although Georgia maintains a 3-2 edge, four of the previous five matches have been one-goal affairs. UT is looking to halt a dismal three-match slide in Athens. Freshman Rhian Wilkinson keyed the Lady Vols to last season's triumph over Georgia by netting a "Golden Goal" at 97:10 and dishing out two assists on Oct. 27, 2000. UT came back to post the 4-3 decision over the Bulldogs following a wild and crazy second half which saw six goals scored. Tennessee freshman Erica LaShomb knotted the match at three goals apiece with 3:15 left in regulation off an assist from classmate Wilkinson that sent the teams to overtime. As the squads battled through the initial 15-minute session, Lady Vol senior Laura Lauter Smith delivered a pass up the middle that Wilkinson put past UGA senior keeper Nicole Williams for the match-winner.
It was a visit to the heartbreak hotel for UT in Athens on Oct. 8, 1999, as the Dawgs converted a penalty kick in the ninth minute of the first overtime period to hand the Lady Vols a stinging 2-1 defeat. Carolyn Cayard tallied both goals for the Bulldogs, as UGA extended its home unbeaten streak to 13 matches.
On that evening, a goal by Allison Campbell gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage at 50:29 off assists from Jen Laughridge and Heather Handel. The goal was the first scored in Athens versus the Bulldogs all season, a span of over 900 minutes. Georgia tied the match at 61:35 when Cayard scored off a direct kick from the penalty arc before the rookie stepped up to the hash mark in overtime and drilled a shot to the left side past Ellen Dean for the winner.
Before a television audience watching on FOX Sports Net South on Oct. 25, 1998, the Big Orange clinched a spot in the SEC Tourney with a thrilling 3-2 win over #25 Georgia in Knoxville. The victory was UT's first over a ranked opponent and also denied the Bulldogs a spot in the league tourney. Tara Minnax knocked in a pair of goals to lead Tennessee, while Laura Lauter had a couple of assists.
Playing in a steady downpour on Oct. 26, 1997, in Athens, the Orange saw its postseason hopes washed away with a difficult 3-0 loss to the Red and Black. Goalkeeper Kim Hull made a career-high 11 saves in the setback. To this point, '97 was the only season that the Lady Vols have failed to reach the postseason.
The clubs first faced one another on Oct. 25, 1996, at the UGA Women's Soccer Stadium. Tennessee put up a good fight, but found itself on the wrong side of the ledger when Mandy Aiken broke a 1-1 stalemate at 74:02 with her second tally of the afternoon. Lady Vol midfielder Brooke Sweeney had put UT ahead 1-0 at the 24-minute mark.
Dowling Honored by Soccer America
Lady Vol freshman standout Keeley Dowling earned the first accolade of her Division I career on Oct. 16, as she was named to Soccer America's 11-member Team of the Week. The midfielder from Carmel, Ind., delivered the game-winning goal in Tennessee's 2-1 win at Vanderbilt on Oct. 12, and later assisted on junior Kim Patrick's overtime tally in the Orange's 1-0 conquest of #24 Kentucky on Sunday, Oct. 14.
"Keeley has surpassed my expectations thus far," said head coach Angie Kelly. "Her contributions to our team on and off the field have been immeasurable. I am extremely proud of her development as a Lady Vol."
Dowling became just the fifth Tennessee player to be recognized by Soccer America, joining Kassie Kees (Sept. 23, 1997), Ellen Dean (Sept. 13, 1999), Kelly Berrall (Oct. 9, 2000) and Rhian Wilkinson (Oct. 30, 2000), in the elite group.
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 SEC 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 turned the trick.
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.
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 tacked on four more wins to boost its ledger to 12-0.
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. At the time, the clash on 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' previous meeting in '98.
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 61 shots and is now leads the squad in 22 points on eight 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 ACC in scoring with 42 points and in goals with 18 and earned a plethora of individual accolades. She 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 5-4 (.556), with wins over #13 Brigham Young (2-1 on Sept. 1, 2001), #15 Kentucky (3-2 on Oct. 15, 2000, and 1-0 in double overtime on Oct. 14, 2001) #16 Wake Forest (2-1 on Sept. 20, 2001) and #8 Florida (2-1 in overtime on Oct.19, 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).
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 Recognition
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.
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.
Around the League This Weekend
Below is a composite schedule of where the other 11 schools in the league are competing this weekend:
- Nov. 2: LSU at Arkansas, Auburn at Alabama, Miss. State at Ole Miss, UNC Greensboro at South Carolina, Indiana at Kentucky
- Nov. 3: Clemson at Florida, Duke at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 4: Arkansas at Oklahoma, Memphis at Miss. State
Stevens Among the Conference Leaders
Starting goalkeeper Cori Stevens has totaled 81 saves to rank first overall within the SEC in that category as of Oct. 30. The junior is ranked seventh in goals against average (1.36) and is tied with Georgia's Ashley Lindley and South Carolina's Elise Matthews for seventh in shutouts with blankings of Rutgers, Alabama and Kentucky. In SEC matches only, Stevens is second in GAA at 0.81 and joins five other players with a pair of shutouts each. 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).
Patrick and Dowling All Over the Scoring Lists
Freshman Keeley Dowling and junior Kim Patrick can find their names all over the weekly release produced by the SEC Office. In the overall statistics, Patrick is third in assists with seven and is fifth in both points (27) and goals (10). Dowling is seventh in goals (nine) and ninth in points (22). With three match-winners apiece, each member of dynamic duo rates second behind Florida All-American Abby Wambach's league-best total of seven. In the SEC scoring race, Patrick rates third in points (18), goals (seven) and helpers (four). Dowling is fourth in goals (six) and fifth in points (14) and is the top freshman in each case.
Scoring When It's Needed Most
Five players have been responsible for Tennessee's 11 match-winning goals so far in 2001. Freshman Keeley Dowling has notched the winning scores against James Madison (Sept. 7), Alabama (Oct. 7) and Vanderbilt (Oct. 12), junior Kim Patrick has done the honors in the whitewash of Rutgers (Sept. 9) and the overtime wins over #24 Kentucky (Oct. 14) and #8 Florida (Oct. 19), rookie Sue Flamini connected against #13 Brigham Young (Sept. 1) and South Carolina (Oct. 21), sophomore Marie-Eve Nault came through against Arkansas (Oct. 26) and LSU (Oct. 28), while freshman Kayla Lockaby's first career goal was the difference in UT's 2-1 edging of #16 Wake Forest (Sept. 20).
The Definitive Dozen?
Tennessee will be trying to match its program-best total of 12 wins, set in 1998 (12-8) and equaled last season (12-8). Now 7-1, the Orange's seven conference wins tie the 2000 team's top performance for triumphs.
Unfriendly Venue
The UGA Soccer Stadium is one of two SEC sites (UF's Percy Beard Stadium is the other) where the Lady Vols have yet to taste victory. UT is 0-3 against the Dawgs on the road, falling in 1996 (2-1), 1997 (3-0) and 1999 (2-1 in OT).
SEC Tournament Looming
In a season marked by many firsts, Tennessee is hoping to change its luck at the SEC Tourney. UT is 0-4 all-time at the event after suffering shutout losses to Florida ('96), Alabama ('98), Ole Miss ('99) and Vanderbilt ('00).
Current Streaks and Trends
The Lady Vols are 5-1 on an opponent's home field this season and boast a 3-1 mark in SEC road tilts... Tennessee won all of its SEC contests at home for the initial time...The Orange has been involved in three overtime matches in '01, equaling its extra-time appearances in 2000...UT holds a 2-1 OT mark, the same record it had last season...Keeper Cori Stevens has notched 10 wins, one short of tying Ellen Dean's school-best victory total set during the 1998 and 2000 campaigns...Sophomore Marie-Eve Nault netted her first two scores of the season last weekend against Arkansas and LSU...UT's last three wins have come by identical 3-1 margins...The Lady Vols' last four matches have been in Knoxville.
