TENNESSEE DEFEATS SOUTH CAROLINA, MOVES TO 4-0 IN SEC

Sunday, October 3

Columbia, SC

University of Tennessee

7-2-2, 4-0SEC

South Carolina

6-6-1, 0-3-1SEC

Tennessee

USC

October 03, 2004 | Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 3, 2004

Final Stats

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Second half goals by seniors Sue Flamini (Cranford, N.J.) and Kristin McGrath (Durango, Colo.) proved the difference as the Lady Vols improved on the program's best start to a Southeastern Conference campaign at 4-0 by defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 3-1 on Sunday at Eugene E. Stone Stadium in Columbia, S.C. The victory by Tennessee ended USC's perfect 5-0 record at home during the 2004 campaign and was the first defeat for the Gamecocks in a Sunday matinee since 2002, having registered a 7-0-1 mark in its last eight matches.

"It was a great weekend for our team," said Lady Vol Head Coach Angela Kelly. "It was very important for us to come out as a unit after our tough battle with Florida on Friday night. Our box organization was great today, and we were able to capitalize three times. Improving to 4-0 (SEC play) was the best birthday gift this group could give me."

Tennessee controlled the midfield to open the game and its offense applied strong pressure to the Gamecocks to the tune of a 3-0 shot discrepancy as the freshman duo of Erica Griffin (Memphis, Tenn.) and Genna Gorman (Lakewood, Colo.) both put chances on net. Sophomore Ali Christoph (Columbus, Ohio) registered the best early scoring opportunity by firing just wide on a free kick from approximately 30 yards out.

Control of the action swung briefly to South Carolina midway through the opening frame as a quality chance by USC's Courtney Cobbs sailed high over the outstretched hand of Tennessee goalkeeper Vanessa Phillips-Bosshart at the 15:06 mark for a UT goal kick.

The Lady Vols offense finally got the Orange and White on the board at the 26:27 mark as redshirt freshman Emily Redberg (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) retrieved a loose ball in the box and dished it to Christoph who bent a 23-yard lazer over South Carolina's leaping goalkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson for a 1-0 advantage.

In the second half, Flamini provided what turned out to be the match-winner after corralling a loose ball near the penalty kick mark off a corner kick and blasting the ball past Thorstenson from outside the box. For Flamini, the goal was her first of the season and 15th of her career.

Just 1:55 later another Tennessee senior, McGrath, tallied an insurance goal for the Lady Vols at the 53:14 mark by finishing a set play off a corner kick for a 3-0 lead. Senior Keeley Dowling (Carmel, Ind.) and freshman Genna Gorman (Lakewood, Colo.) each registered assists on the play.

South Carolina applied some solid pressure down the stretch and got on the scoreboard at 66:47 when Jessi Swaim connected on her second goal of the campaign off a feed from Courtney Cobbs to cut USC's deficit to just 3-1. Another shot that might have drawn the Garnet and Black within one goal with approximately 20 minutes remaining hit the UT crossbar and deflected harmlessly away.

For the game, the Lady Vols outshot the Gamecocks 16-7, including 10-4 in the decisive second half. The Lady Vols will return to action of Friday, Oct. 8, playing host to the Arkansas Lady 'Backs at the UT Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.