University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOL SOCCER - NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME NOTES
November 14, 2001 | Soccer
Nov. 14, 2001
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23rd-Ranked Lady Vols to Meet Duke in First NCAA Tournament
Head coach Angela Kelly and her Tennessee women's soccer team learned on Monday afternoon that it was one of 36 squads to earn an at-large berth into the 64-team field of the 2001 NCAA Tournament. At 11-6 overall, UT will encounter Atlantic Coast Conference member Duke University (8-9) in first-round action on Friday in Chapel Hill, N.C. The victor between the Lady Vols and Blue Devils will advance to play either top-ranked North Carolina (19-0) or UNC Greensboro (15-7) on Sunday. The weekend action will take place at Fetzer Field.
Time to Pick Out Some Dancing Shoes
In a campaign filled with numerous highlights, the Orange and White punched its inaugural ticket to the NCAA Dance in its sixth year of existence.
UT has already battled 10 teams within this year's field, including four counterparts from the Southeastern Conference. The Lady Vols were 5-6 against teams that earned NCAA bids, with wins over Brigham Young, Florida, Kentucky, Rutgers and Wake Forest. Tennessee was defeated by Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Southern California.
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 23-14 (.622) overall and 14-4 (.778) in SEC regular-season 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.
Last Time Out: Wildcats Eliminate Lady Vols From SEC Tourney
Despite being seeded fourth at the SEC Tournament in Baton Rouge, La., Tennessee came up short in its opening match, falling to Kentucky by a 4-2 margin on Nov. 8. The Wildcats scored three times in the first 35 minutes of the match and their defensive corps kept UT off-balance. Although the Orange closed the gap to 3-2 with 7:26 left in regulation on freshman Sue Flamini's second goal of the afternoon, the 'Cats would tack on an insurance score by rookie Danielle Slupski with just 2:10 left to finalize the margin. "Kentucky finished extremely well this afternoon," said head coach Angela Kelly. "Three goals on their first four shots is a fantastic scoring percentage. Still, we fought back to get ourselves out of the hole. To the credit of my young women, they couldn't have worked any harder for me. We were a different team in the second half and that proved to me they have a large amount of character and great love for one another.
"Sue (Flamini) showed everyone why she was picked first-team All-SEC tonight, as she was all over the field and had a great offensive and defensive presence. I was also very impressed with the efforts of junior Jen Laughridge and freshman Keeley Dowling, who both never stopped playing. I am disappointed in the loss but proud to be the coach of this group of Lady Vols."
UT Falls in the Rankings
Following their loss to Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tourney, the Lady Vols tumbled in the national polls released on Monday. Tennessee descended from 19th to 23rd in the Soccer Buzz Magazine Top 25 and the Orange fell out of the NSCAA/adidas ratings after holding down the 22nd spot last week. Within the Soccer Buzz Central Region Top 10, Tennessee occupied the fifth spot, behind the Big 12 trio of #9 Texas A&M (14-3-1), #13 Texas (14-5) and #16 Nebraska (15-4-1), as well as Western Athletic Conference representative #21 SMU (15-3). In the NSCAA/adidas version of the regional poll, UT came in fourth behind the Big 12 contingent.
Taking Home Something
All was not completely lost on UT's trip down to the Bayou, as a record three Lady Vols were selected to the All-SEC teams announced at a banquet held in Louisiana State University's Lod Cook Alumni Center on Nov. 7. Midfielder Sue Flamini became the first rookie from Tennessee to be chosen to the first team, while junior forward Kim Patrick was also selected as a first-team choice. Rookie midfielder Keeley Dowling earned second-team accolades.
Classroom Standouts
The trio of seniors Ellen Dean (Microbiology), Sharon Holmes (Anthropology) and Kim Sgarlata (Finance) led five Lady Vols on to the 2001 SEC Women's Soccer Academic Honor Roll announced by SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer on Nov. 6. Sophomore Cameron Conway (Political Science) and junior Cori Stevens (Sport Management) were also among the 107 student-athletes receiving that recognition.
Dean, Holmes and Sgarlata were making their third straight appearances on the list, while Conway was chosen for the second consecutive year. Stevens, a transfer from the University of Massachusetts prior to last season, was a first-time recipient.
Better Luck Next Year
Tennessee recently made its fifth SEC Tourney appearance in the six years of its program. The Lady Vols have earned berths to the events held in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. However, UT slipped to 0-5 all-time in the postseason with its loss to Kentucky.
Spoiled Plans
Had the Orange defeated Georgia for the first time in Athens on Nov. 2, it would have assumed the top seed for the SEC Tournament and claimed its first divisional crown. Instead, UT lost the tie-breaker to the Bulldogs and wound up as the No. 4 seed. By virtue of their division titles, Florida (Eastern) and Mississippi State (Western) received the top two seeds, respectively.
Patrick Snares edsouth Athlete of the Month for October
After a spectacular stretch in which she led the Lady Vol soccer team in scoring and brought her squad to the cusp of a first-ever SEC regular-season title, junior Kim Patrick was selected as the edsouth Athlete of the Month for October in a vote taken by the media relations office. The forward became the second soccer player to earn the accolade for the 2001-02 school year, as freshman Sue Flamini picked up the honor in September.
The Pleasanton, Calif., native took her play to another level last month, extending her string of matches with a point to 11 in a row before it was ended at the SEC Tournament. Over eight contests in October, her totals of 18 points on seven goals and four assists helped direct the Lady Vols to a 7-1 record and a national ranking of 16th.
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, 5A, 23 pts.), Sue Flamini (8G, 6A, 22 pts.), Kim Patrick (11G, 7A, 29 pts.), Lyndsey Patterson (2G, 4A, 8 pts.) and Kayla Lockaby (2G, 2A, 6 pts.) accounts for 84 percent of the team's goals (32 of 38), 79 percent of the points (88 of 112) and 67 percent of the club's assists (24 of 36).
Blue Devil Banter
Duke University is 8-9 overall and placed seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 2-5 league record. Although the Blue Devils were one of seven ACC teams to secure a berth in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, they are the lone member of the field of 64 to possess a losing record. In its last outing, at the conference tourney on Nov. 8 in Winston-Salem, N.C., Duke was edged by Virginia, 2-1 in overtime.
Funny Seeing You Here
Head coach Robbie Church is in his first season patrolling the sidelines for the Blue Devils. Following the departure of his predecessor, Bill Hempen, to the University of Colorado, Church arrived at Duke from Vanderbilt. As mentor of the Commodores, he compiled a 21-9-1 (.694) record in his two seasons as head coach. He led VU to the SEC Tournament semifinal appearances in each of his two seasons.
Before arriving in Nashville in 1999, Church became the first head coach at UNC Charlotte in 1994, a position he would hold until 1998. While at Charlotte, he guided the 49ers to a 66-30-8 (.673) mark in his five seasons, including the school's first ever NCAA Tournament bid in 1998 and three Conference USA titles.
In his eight seasons as a Division I head coach, Church has amassed a record of 95-58-9 (.614). He holds a 2-1 mark against the Lady Vols, highlighted by a 2-0 Vandy shutout of UT in the 2000 SEC Tournament that ended the Orange's campaign.
An Annual Rite of Fall
In its 14th season as a varsity program, Duke women's soccer is making its ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils had a streak of six straight trips to the postseason event in 1992, '93, '94, '95, '96 and '97. Duke's best finish came in its first appearance in 1992, when it advanced to the national championship game against North Carolina. However, the Tar Heels pounded their archrivals by a 9-1 margin. Since then, the Blue Devils have advanced to the second round four times (1994, '96, '99 and 2000) and earned a bye to the second round in 1995. Duke's overall record in the NCAA Tournament is 7-8 (.467). Last season, the Blue Devils stopped Furman (3-1 in Durham) before succumbing to third seeded Clemson, 2-1, in overtime on a goal at 94:55 by Deliah Arrington. The Tigers would later advance to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual champ North Carolina.
Divided Loyalties for Baggett
Tennessee assistant coach Samantha Baggett should be in an awkward spot this week. She was a four-year starter at Duke from 1994-97, playing both forward and defender for the Blue Devils. She was tabbed as a Freshman All-American by Soccer America and Soccer News in '94 and was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference selection and a three-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Southeast Region choice. Baggett earned a spot on the ACC's All-Tournament team on three occasions and was voted as her club's Offensive Most Valuable Player in '97.
As a senior, she recorded 28 points on 13 goals and a pair of assists to lead Duke in scoring. Baggett's goal total that year ranked fifth on the school's single-season list heading into the 2001 campaign, while her point tally rated sixth. Over her four-year career, she registered 38 points on 16 goals and six helpers and helped the Blue Devils reach NCAAs four straight times.
In her rookie season of 1994, Duke equaled its school record for wins in a season with 17, including an upset victory over national champion North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., as the squad cruised to the program's first ACC regular season title, and a No. 4 final national ranking. Baggett later served as a volunteer assistant coach for Bill Hempen during the 1998 and '99 campaign, when the Blue Devils advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Giving the Devils Their Due
Duke freshman midfielder Casey McCluskey earned 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the All-ACC first team and the All-Freshmen Team at the conference's annual tournament banquet last week. Sophomore goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir joined McCluskey on the All-ACC first team, while junior midfielder Carly Fuller received second-team honors.
McCluskey was the top offensive threat for the Blue Devils in 2001, finishing the regular season tied for fourth in the conference in goals (nine) and second among freshmen. The Fairfax, Va., native posted three two-goal games and is currently tied for seventh all-time at Duke for goals in a season. While she does not have any assists, McCluskey has 18 points.
Helgadottir has been solid in net for the Blue Devils this season, with four shutouts and a goals against average of 1.54. The Kopavogur, Iceland, native, who led the ACC in saves per game in the regular season (5.15), delivered consecutive shutouts of N.C. State (1-0 on Oct, 24), #19 Wake Forest (2-0 on Oct. 27) and Vanderbilt (2-0 on Nov. 3). Fuller has created many of Duke's scoring opportunities this season and has notched game-winners in two of Duke's last four matches.
Common Opponents Between Duke and Tennessee
Six programs can claim the Blue Devils and Lady Vols among their foes this season, split evenly among the ACC and SEC. Clemson stopped UT, 4-3 in double-overtime on Sept. 23, then edged Duke, 1-0 on Oct. 5. The Lady Vols upended Florida, 2-1 in sudden-death on Oct. 19, a week after the Gators had handed the Blue Devils a 3-0 setback in Gainesville on Oct. 12. Georgia got the better of both squads, 3-2 over DU on Sept. 23 in Durham, and then 2-1 over the Orange on Nov. 2 in Athens. #1 North Carolina dealt the Lady Vols a 5-2 defeat in Knoxville on Sept. 26, and later thwarted their enemies up the road, 3-1 on Oct. 2. Duke and Tennessee both enjoyed success against Wake Forest and Vanderbilt. The Blue Devils upended the Demon Deacons, 2-0 on Oct. 27, and blanked the Commodores, 2-0 on Nov. 3, while UT slid past WF, 2-1 on Sept. 20, and held off the 'Dores, 2-1 on Oct. 12.
Looking to Buck the Trend
Against Duke, the Lady Vols will be aiming to improve upon their 2-10 (.167) record against squads from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Orange has fallen to North Carolina five times, Virginia twice and Clemson twice over its six-year existence. However, Tennessee has split its two encounters with Florida State, losing to the Seminoles in 1996 (5-0) and returning the favor on Senior Day in '97 (4-1). On Sept. 20, 2001, UT was able to hold off ACC member Wake Forest, 2-1.
Something to Ponder
The loser of the match between the blue and orange-clad squads will have an immediate shot at payback during the 2002 campaign, as Duke and Tennessee are slated to face one another on Aug. 30 in Durham in the season opener for both teams.
Analyzing the Tar Heel Juggernaut
Having raced through the regular season and the Atlantic Coast Conference unscathed, North Carolina cruises into the NCAA Tournament with a 19-0 record. The 'Heels have recorded shutouts of #20 Texas (1-0), Charlotte (5-0), #8 Penn State (3-0), Georgia (9-0), Missouri (7-0), Auburn (2-0), UAB (2-0), Wake Forest (1-0), #14 Clemson (3-0), Ohio State (2-0), N.C. State (1-0), Wake Forest (3-0) and #19 Florida State (4-0) in rolling up a 68-8 disparity in goals. Additionally, UNC has out-shot its foes by a staggering margin of 390-102. Positives for the Lady Vols is that they join the Wolfpack as the only schools to have scored more than once against Carolina and UT holds the distinction of being the first team to score on UNC in '01, as the 'Heels had blanked their first five foes.
Carolina's roster reads like a who's-who of U.S. National Team members, All-Americans and All-Atlantic Coast Conference performers, not to mention yet another solid recruiting class for head coach Anson Dorrance. Easily acknowledged as the top coach in the world of collegiate soccer, Dorrance has amassed a 506-22-11 (.949) record in his 23 years as the lone Tar Heels' mentor since the infancy of the school's program in 1979. UNC has claimed 13 straight ACC Tournaments and has reached the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament every year it has been held.
As expected, Carolina remained the consensus number one in all of the recognized polls throughout the season. Those polls include the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas National Rankings, SoccerTimes.com College Coaches Division I Women's Soccer Poll, Soccer Buzz, Soccer America Women's Top 20, and CollegeSoccer.Com National Media Poll.
A whopping 19 different players have figured in UNC's offensive production, headlined by sophomore Alyssa Ramsey (14 goals, 14 assists, 42 points), senior Anne Remy (nine goals, 12 assists, 30 points) and sophomore Elizabeth Ball (nine goals, five assists, 23 points). Freshman Anne Morrell, a current member of the U.S. National Team, has three match-winners, along with Ramsey, to lead the 'Heels and the rookie has 21points on seven goals and seven assists. Senior Danielle Borgman (seven assists) was the 2000 Defender of the Year by Soccer Times, while classmate Jena Kluegel (eight goals, four assists, 20 points) was a first-team All-American from several publications last season.
Junior goalkeeper Jenni Branam (0.47 GAA, 25 saves, 5.6 shutouts, 764 minutes) is a member of the U.S. National Team who has earned five caps. The Placentia, Calif., native missed a large part of last season when she was training in Australia as an alternate member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team. Senior Kristin DePlatchett has started 12 matches and has registered a 0.39 GAA with 21 saves and seven solo shutouts in 923 minutes.
In addition, the duo of Kluegel and sophomore Catherine Reddick (three goals, seven assists, 14 points) missed time this season while participating in the U.S. squad's training camp over Sept. 4-16 in preparation for the 2001 Nike Cup.
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 13 more wins to boost its ledger to 19-0.
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 had 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. She 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.
Fun While It Lasted
In the teams' encounter in Chapel Hill on Sept. 3, 2000, Erica LaShomb gave the Lady Vols a quick 1-0 lead, but the talented Tar Heels responded with six straight goals to seal the victory. After being blanked in its previous three meetings, the Knoxville clan headed into the break knotted at one with UNC. Future Lady Vol Kim Patrick would deliver a pair of goals against the Orange, giving her a total of four career goals in two games versus UT. The victory was also the 200th on hallowed Fetzer Field for the Tar Heels in their 22-year history, while Anson Dorrance was coaching the 500th match of his career.
First Time for Everything
Until Erica LaShomb found the back of the net at 39:44 last season, Tennessee had gone close to three and half matches without scoring on the staunch North Carolina defense -- a span of 309:44 without hitting pay-dirt. Surprisingly, that is not the Lady Vols' longest drought against any opponent, as they went 315:20 without cracking the scoreboard at the hands of Florida between a goal at 67:25 by Natalie Balash on Sept. 29, 1996 until a tally by Jen Laughridge at 22:45 on Oct. 15, 1999. In between, the Gators pitched shutouts of 3-0 on Nov. 7, 1996, at the SEC Tourney, 4-0 in Knoxville on Oct. 17, 1997, and 4-0 in Gainesville on Sept. 11, 1998.
Glad to See They Turned It Around
From North Carolina's lofty expectations, the 2000 regular-season had to be termed disappointing by its usual standards. The Tar Heels dropped matches to #4 Clemson (2-1 on Sept. 13), #23 Florida State (3-2 in double overtime) and Wake Forest (1-0 on Oct. 27) and failed to capture the ACC's regular-season crown for just the second time since the 1988 season. Entering the postseason with a 13-3 mark, Carolina reeled off eight straight triumphs to claim the ACC and NCAA Tournament crowns. In its conference event, UNC dispatched N.C. State (5-1) and the 16th-ranked Seminoles (3-0) before bouncing Duke in the final, 4-0. At NCAAs, the Tar Heels stormed past the Demon Deacons (5-0), #14 Virginia (2-1) and #13 Connecticut (3-0) to reach the Final Four in San Jose, Calif. At the Women's College Cup, UNC made second-half comebacks to overcome #1 Notre Dame and #10 UCLA by identical 2-1 margins to once again become the national champions.
Trivia Question Answers
Since the NCAA Tournament began in 1982, only three schools other than North Carolina have worn the mantle of being called the national champion: Florida, George Mason and Notre Dame. On Nov. 24, 1985, the Patriots of George Mason claimed the title on their home field with a 2-0 shutout of UNC. The University of Notre Dame, ranked ninth nationally, shocked the Tar Heels in the NCAA semifinals held at Fetzer Field on Dec. 1, 1995, by winning on an own goal, 1-0. The defeat ended a run of nine straight NCAA championships for Carolina, as the Fighting Irish would go on to upend Portland in overtime to grab the brass ring. The Gators became the first Southeastern Conference program to claim the top spot with a 1-0 shutout of UNC on Dec. 6, 1998, in Greensboro, N.C. UF tallied the match-winner during the opening 10 minutes and withstood a 21-6 onslaught in shots by the 'Heels.
Leaving a Lasting Impression
As a result of its record-breaking performances over the years, Carolina can also take credit for occupying plenty of space in its opponents' media guides. Tennessee's brochure is no exception. In delivering UT's worst loss in its existence, a 8-0 shutout on Sept. 5, 1997, the Tar Heel offense etched its place into the top spot in shots (37), points (29), corner kicks (14) and assists (13). Robin Confer was a one-woman wrecking crew that night, setting a record against UT with eight points on two goals and four assists. Not to be outdone, Meredith Florance, the 2000 Honda Award winner for soccer, registered a hat trick for UNC. North Carolina is responsible for the Lady Vols' worst defeat at the Tennessee Soccer Complex, set during the encounter between the clubs in 1998. The 'Heels scored six times on 18 shots to notch the most goals allowed by the Orange at home. For the record, the visitors from Chapel Hill lit up the board at 16:25 (Cindy Parlow), 41:07 (Rebekah McDowell), 44:50 (Danielle Borgman), 51:30 (Laurie Schwoy), 52:02 (Rakel Karvelsson) and 64:49 (Schwoy). The tandem of Siri Mullinix and Kristin DePlachett combined for one save to share the whitewash of the home team.
A Homecoming of Sorts
Two players on the Lady Vol roster call the Tar Heel state home: junior midfielder Jen Laughridge (Wilson) and junior goalkeeper Cori Stevens (Greensboro). North Carolina does not boast anyone from Tennessee on its current squad, although Anson Dorrance has eight home-staters on his team.
A Strange Feeling for #5
With the Lady Vols' 4-2 loss to Kentucky last Thursday afternoon, junior Kim Patrick tasted defeat in the postseason for the first time as a collegian. While she was at North Carolina during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, her clubs routinely picked up three wins on their way to the ACC crown and another five triumphs en route to the NCAA championship.
Tough Schedule Pays Off for UT
Each team that emerged victorious against Tennessee this season advanced to the NCAA Tournament: Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Southern California. In 2000, only four UT opponents danced their way into NCAAs: Florida, Marquette, North Carolina and Xavier. Ironically, the Orange did not defeat any of these foes.
There's Something About Kim
Everywhere people turned during the week of Oct. 22-28 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.
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
- first time live scoring over the Internet was done at the Tennessee Soccer Complex
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 10-5 record, the best start in the six-year existence of the program, and boasts a 1.40 goals against average and an .798 save percentage. She has delivered shutouts of Rutgers, Alabama and UK and leads the Southeastern Conference with 87 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.
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."
At the time, Dowling became just the fifth UT 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
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."
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.
Stevens Among the Conference Leaders
Starting goalkeeper Cori Stevens has totaled 88 saves to rank first overall within the SEC in that category as of Nov. 13. The junior is ranked seventh in goals against average (1.56) 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 was second in GAA at 0.95 and joined 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 (29) and goals (11). 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 rated second in points (20), goals (eight) and helpers (four). Dowling was fourth in goals (six) and fifth in points (15) and was 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).
Can They Order a Dozen?
Friday night will mark UT's third attempt at matching its program-best total of 12 wins, set in 1998 (12-8) and equaled last season (12-8). At 7-2, the Orange's seven conference wins tied the 2000 team's top performance for triumphs.
New Kids on the Block
While Duke will be enjoying its ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament, Tennessee's women's soccer team is making its debut in the Big Dance. A record four other SEC schools advanced to NCAA action: Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky.
Home of the National Champs
UT is competing this weekend at Fetzer Field, the home of #1 North Carolina. The 'Heels will begin their quest for a 17th NCAA crown against UNC Greensboro.
Current Streaks and Trends
The Lady Vols are 6-4 away from Knoxville this season and are 1-2 in neutral-site matchups...UT 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...Defenders Carie Swibas and Lindsey Wiest are the only Lady Vols to have logged every minute this season on the pitch -- a span of 1,590 minutes...The Orange will be playing at Fetzer Field for the fourth time and sport a 0-3 mark.
