Tennessee Downs Vanderbilt 3-1

Sunday, October 14

Nashville, TN

University of Tennessee

9-2-2, 4-1-1SEC

Vanderbilt

4-7-2, 1-3-1SEC

Team	1	2	Final F
TENNESSEE	0	3	3
VANDERBILT	0	1	1

October 14, 2007 | Soccer

Box Score

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ??? The University of Tennessee women???s soccer team closed out a four-match road trip with a 3-1 win over in-state rival Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon, recording its second weekend sweep of the Southeastern Conference season. The 14th-ranked Lady Vols improve to 9-2-2 overall and 4-1-1 in conference play, while posting a 2-1-1 record on the road trip.

???I???m very pleased with the weekend results,??? UT Head Coach Angela Kelly said. ???Having the opportunity in this conference to combine for three great goals is always exciting. Vanderbilt battled us hard for the entire game that???s just a credit to [VU Head Coach] Ronnie Coveleskie and her squad. Relative to last weekend, I thought we improved in a lot of different areas.???

Playing in front of a large Rocky Top contingent, junior forward Kylee Rossi scored what would prove to be the game-winner for Tennessee in the 60th minute, getting an assist from sophomore midfielder Mick Imgram. Senior forward Emily Redberg set up the play, passing the ball to Imgram, who worked into the center of the field before sliding a pass through to Rossi. The Pennington, N.J. native touched the ball, then beat VU freshman keeper Rachel Bachtel for the score. Rossi now leads the team with five goals this season, including four in league play. The assist is Imgram???s team-leading fourth of the year.

???We always come out and give it our all,??? Emerson said. ???At Tennessee we expect to win every game, so we???re going to go out there and do whatever it takes to win.???

The Lady Vols would need the Rossi goal, after a foul by sophomore defender Sarah Jackyra in the box gave Vanderbilt a penalty kick in the 84th minute. VU junior midfielder Amy Wilcox converted on the PK, putting the ball into the lower left corner, just out of reach of diving UT junior keeper Jaimel Johnson. The goal cut the UT lead to just one.

Just five minutes later, however, freshman midfielder Tanya Emerson sealed the victory for Tennessee. Emerson received the ball at the top of the box before turning to face the goal and putting an upper 90 shot past Bachtel. The goal is the Capistrano Beach, Calif. native???s third of the season and second of the weekend.

???I just give it my all and play like it???s my last game,??? Emerson said. ???I just try to work hard for the team, whether it???s getting up there for the rebounds or doing the dirty work and hitting it in. I???ll do whatever it takes to get the win.???

Emerson had a breakout weekend, tallying two goals, including her first game-winner in overtime at Kentucky on Friday night. The true freshman also helped create several scoring opportunities for the Lady Vols over the weekend, showing her true potential and battling in the midfield on both sides of the ball.

???I can???t say enough about Tanya Emerson,??? Kelly said. ???She???s everywhere defensively, she helps settle the ball and even though she???s small in stature she always comes up with the ball at her feet. She???s one of those players that you are so grateful to have on your team. To have the game-winner on Friday night and to have our third goal today is a true testament to her outstanding abilities.???

The Lady Vols got on the board just four minutes into the second half, getting a score from Redberg in the 49th minute. Emerson won a ball on the right flank, playing it into the box for Imgram who took a shot which was saved by Bachtel. The rebound came out to Redberg, who tapped it into the back of the net over Bachtel.

The two teams played an exciting second half, combining for 19 shots in the final 45 minutes. The Lady Vols put seven shots on frame in the second half, forcing Bachtel to make six total saves in the match.

For the second consecutive match and eighth time this season, the Lady Vols were held scoreless in the first half. The first half shutout also marked the ninth time this season UT has held an opponent scoreless in the first frame.

VU and UT were evenly matched through the first 45 minutes, with Vanderbilt taking eight shots and Tennessee taking five. The Orange and White forced Bachtel to make two saves in the half, while Johnson needed just one stop to hold the Commodores scoreless.

The goal for Redberg was her fourth of the season and her second in SEC play. Rossi and Redberg are now both just one goal away from tying for seventh in career goals all-time at UT. The two forwards have 23 career goals apiece, while Redberg???s 60 career points put her in sole possession of 10th all-time at Tennessee.

The Lady Vols next take the field on Friday, Sept. 19 at Regal Soccer Stadium. Tennessee plays host to Ole Miss at 7 p.m. on Friday before facing Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon, live on FOX Sports Net.