Emerson Gives UT Overtime Victory

Friday, October 12

Lexington, KY

University of Tennessee

8-2-2, 3-1-1

Kentucky

6-5-2, 0-5-0

OT 2

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

October 12, 2007 | Soccer

Box Score

Box Score??| Box Score (PDF)

LEXINGTON , Ky. ??? The University of Tennessee women???s soccer team earned a 1-0 overtime victory over Kentucky on Friday night, thanks to freshman midfielder Tanya Emerson???s game-winner in the 95th minute. The win was the Lady Vols??? third in extra time this season. UT improves to 8-2-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
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???I think after having a tough weekend last weekend against LSU and Arkansas we came out with the right mentality and wanted to put the ball in the back of the net,??? Tennessee junior goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson said. ???We just wanted the win really bad, everybody worked together and we finished it out in overtime.
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The game-winner came after the Orange and White gained possession in Kentucky ???s end and junior forward Kylee Rossi crossed the ball into the box. Redshirt freshman Devon Swaim settled the ball and took a shot that was saved by Wildcats keeper Sydney Hiance. The rebound found Emerson who tucked it into the right side of the net. The goal is Emerson???s second of the season and her first career golden goal.
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???It was a great goal by Tanya to follow up,??? UT Head Coach Angela Kelly said. ???You try to always get a result in regulation but to get a win in overtime is an exciting way to finish a game. We???re just happy to be 3-1-1 and moving on in the conference.???
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A scoreless second half resulted in Tennessee ???s fifth overtime match of the season. Both teams took five shots in the second frame, with Kentucky putting three of those on goal. The Wildcats got their best chance of the night on a shot from senior forward Callie Lamphier that was blocked by UT senior defender Jordan Falcusan in the box.
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The first half marked the seventh time the Lady Vols have been held scoreless in the first frame this season. Tennessee took nine shots in the half, putting just two on goal, while UK put one of its six shots on frame. Both keepers had little work to do, with Hiance making two saves and Johnson needing just one to keep the game scoreless through 45 minutes.
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???This was a hard-fought game this evening,??? Kelly said. ???I give credit to [ UK Head Coach] Warren Lipka and his squad, they battled. I thought they did a great job this evening.???
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Johnson needed just four saves to record her sixth shutout of the season, while Hiance made five saves on 16 Tennessee shots. The goose-egg is the 80th in program history, while the victory puts Johnson just one win away from tying Sarah Shivley for third all-time at UT.
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The Orange and White have now played in 50 overtime matches in program history, winning 24 of those matches. Tennessee remains undefeated in overtime this season, compiling a 3-0-2 record.
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???We still haven???t quite found our rhythm, but with the parity in this league and how talented and how well prepared each team is, we???re going to take this win and run with it,??? Kelly said.
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The Lady Vols return to action on Sunday afternoon, traveling to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt. The in-state rivalry match is the SEC Game of the Week and will be televised live on the FOX Sports South and SUNSports networks. Kick off is scheduled for??1 p.m. CT at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
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???We???re just happy to get the win and now prepare for Vanderbilt on Sunday,??? Johnson said.