UT Wins Wet One Over Alabama 2-1

Thursday, October 25

Tuscaloosa, AL

University of Tennessee

12-2-2 (7-1-1SEC)

Alabama

9-8-1 (2-6-1SEC)

Team	1	2	Final F
TENNESSEE	1	1	2
ALABAMA	0	1	1

October 25, 2007 | Soccer

Box Score

Box Score??|Box Score (PDF)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ??? A goal from junior forward Kylee Rossi in the second half lifted the 12th-ranked University of Tennessee women???s soccer team over Alabama, 2-1, in the rain at the Alabama Soccer Complex on Thursday night. The Lady Vols extended their winning streak to five matches and improved to 12-2-2 overall and 7-1-1 in the Southeastern Conference with the victory.
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???It was a great goal by Kylee Rossi,??? UT Head Coach Angela Kelly said. ???We???re just toughing it out. I think Devon Swaim had a great game today. Our frontline did well and we got the win. Alabama played great this evening.???
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Rossi put the Orange and White up for good in the 86th minute. The Pennington, N.J., native received the ball on the far right side of the field, where she beat two defenders before taking a shot from 20 yards out which curled into the upper left corner of the goal. The score is Rossi???s team-leading eighth of the season and the 10th game-winner of her career.
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Even with a 2-1 advantage and just four minutes remaining, Tennessee had to work to hold onto the lead. After missing a chance to take a 3-1 lead on a penalty kick in the 87th minute, UT faced an offensive push from the Crimson Tide. With under a minute remaining, Alabama had several chances including a shot that was stopped on the goal line by the Lady Vol defense.
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???It was a great goal by Kylee Rossi,??? Kelly said. ???I wish would could have finished our PK, but then again I wish we could have finished a lot of opportunities prior to that, but we???re going to take the win.???
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The Crimson Tide evened the score just five minutes into the second half, when sophomore midfielder Kailey Corken found sophomore forward Kelsey King in the box. King took a shot that skipped up off the slick turf and through the arms of UT junior keeper Jaimel Johnson.
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???I want to give a ton of credit to [UA Head Coach] Don Staley and his squad for executing their game plan to perfection,??? Kelly said. ???We haven???t played a team in my memory that played four forwards and matched us up all over the field. That???s a credit to them and their commitment to that game plan.???
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Tennessee got on the board first, just nine minutes into the first half. After stringing several passes together in the midfield, the Lady Vols found senior forward Emily Redberg who broke away from her defender and beat Crimson Tide keeper Justine Bernier on the ground. The goal is Redberg???s seventh of the season. The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native has posted nine points in the last four matches.
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During a wet match, both teams struggled to maintain possession. The Lady Vols managed to take 24 shots, while Alabama sent 12 strikes towards Johnson. Bernier was forced to make 16 saves, while Johnson made seven saves to post the 17th victory of her career.
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Tennessee retained the lead in the SEC standings, though No. 20 Georgia notched a 3-2 win over Auburn.
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?????We created a lot of opportunities for ourselves that we probably should have finished,??? Kelly said. ???This is conference play and you???re never guaranteed anything. We???re excited about the win and looking forward towards Auburn.???
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The Lady Vols close out their regular season home schedule on Sunday. UT hosts Auburn for Senior Day at Regal Soccer Stadium for a 2 p.m. start.