Tennessee Scores Big in Opener

Friday, August 22

Chattanooga, TN

University of Tennessee

1-0-0

Chattanooga

0-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
TENNESSEE	3	2	5
Chattanooga	0	0	0

August 22, 2008 | Soccer

Box Score

Aug. 22, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The 13th-ranked University of Tennessee women's soccer team posted a 5-0 win over Chattanooga to open the 2008 regular season on Friday night. The win is the Lady Vols' first in an opener away from home since 2001, while the five goals are the most by a UT team in two years.

"I thought this game was a good starting point for us," Assistant Coach Joe Kirt said. "Chattanooga played hard throughout the match. It was a good opportunity for the freshmen to get a taste of collegiate action."

Tennessee got on the board first in the 24th minute, scoring from a set piece to notch its first goal of the season. After junior midfielder Mick Imgram received a pass on a short corner from sophomore defender Julie Edwards, the two put together a give and go, with Imgram finally feeding senior midfielder Leslie Vineyard in the center of the box. Vineyard found the back of the net, one-timing the pass with her instep for the 1-0 lead.

After three years of patrolling the defensive half of the midfield, the goal marked the first of Vineyard's career. The St. Louis, Mo., native added an assist to record three points on the night.

"That goal was a long time coming," Vineyard said. "It felt great. I'm really glad it was the first goal of the season. It feels like I've been working towards that forever."

From there, UT never looked back, posting two more goals in the first half and holding Chattanooga without a shot through the first 45 minutes. The Lady Vols tested Preston in the first frame, putting 10 of their 18 shots on goal.

The Lady Vols got their second goal at the feet of senior forward Kylee Rossi. The Pennington, N.J., native notched her first score of the season after receiving a leading pass into the box from Vineyard and putting it past Preston in the 27th minute.

Rossi found the back of the net again in the 34th minute, getting a pass from Edwards on the left side of the box and putting it past Preston on the ground. The goal puts Rossi just 10 points away from becoming the Orange and White's all-time leading scorer.

The Lady Vols got a chance early in the second half after Vineyard was taken down in the box, earning a penalty kick. Sophomore forward Devon Swaim took the penalty for Tennessee, but Preston held steady, blocking the shot and keeping the score at 3-0.

Minutes later, however, a corner kick from Swaim found the feet of senior midfielder Alissa VonderHaar after ping-ponging around in the box. VonderHaar took a shot which rebounded to sophomore forward Anna Fisher who put it away for the first goal of her career and a 4-0 lead.

UT capped off its scoring with another career first from freshman midfielder Emily Dowd. Fisher put a cross through the box that found Dowd on the far post where she followed it into the net in the 70th minute.

Overall, the Lady Vols outshot Chattanooga 30-2, putting 17 strikes on frame. Rossi led the team with four points, followed by Vineyard and Fisher with three points apiece. Rossi's four shots also led UT, while Chelsea Hurst and Macy Johnson notched the only strikes for the Lady Mocs.

"Limiting Chattanooga's chances and creating scoring opportunities for ourselves were goals, and we did a good job of meeting our goals tonight," Kirt said.

Several Tennessee youngsters posted career firsts in the season opener. Fisher made her initial start, while Dowd, redshirt freshman Molly Delk, freshmen midfielders Emily Shore, Hannah Hut and Hannah Martin and freshman defender Lara Langworthy saw their first action in the Orange and White, combining to post seven shots. Overall, the Lady Vol underclassmen accounted for six points, with Dowd and Fisher notching goals and Edwards and Fisher dishing out assists.

"We have a lot to work on as a team but just starting out it was great to get out there," Vineyard said. "It was really good that we had a lot of freshmen contribute and get playing time and get their confidence up. That's what we were looking to do going forward. That makes us really strong as a unit."

The Lady Vols earned their eighth win in a season opener in program history and their fourth in the last six seasons. The match marked the first time UT has scored five goals since a 5-2 win over Auburn in the first round of the 2006 SEC Tournament.

"It just felt good to get out on the field for the first time as a team," Vineyard said. "It was nice to get out there and battle against someone other than our teammates."

With a win under its belt, the Orange and White now looks ahead to next weekend's trip to College Station, Texas. The Lady Vols will meet 2007 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 participants Indiana on Friday, Aug. 29, and No. 3 North Carolina on Sunday, Aug. 31 at the Aggie Soccer Complex.