Vols Hang Tough with #13 Auburn in Regular-Season Finale

Thursday, October 27

Auburn, AL

8:00 PM

University of Tennessee

10-8-1, 5-5-1SEC

Auburn

13-5-0, 9-2-0SEC

Tennessee

Auburn

Vols Hang Tough with #13 Auburn in Regular-Season Finale

October 27, 2016 | Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 27, 2016

Box Score | Highlights

AUBURN, Ala. -- Tennessee hung tough with No. 13 Auburn on the road but gave up a pair of late goals in a 3-1 loss in the regular-season finale for both teams on Thursday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex.

Hannah Wilkinson scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season to give the Volunteers and early lead but UT had trouble containing the Tigers' high-powered attack. Casie Ramsier broke a 1-1 tie in the 81st minute and Bri Folds extended the lead to two with the final goal of the game in the 84th minute.

The Vols (10-8-1, 5-5-1 SEC) opened the scoring in the 16th minute on Wilkinson's goal off a corner kick. The New Zealand native headed home her 32nd career goal off a perfect service from Rylie O'Keefe, who recorded her ninth assist on the year.

Auburn (13-5, 9-2 SEC) equalized a little over nine minutes later with a goal from its leading scorer, Kristen Dodson, as she netted her 11th of the season to tie the game at one. Dodson gained control of the ball just outside the box and fended off two defenders before beating Shae Yanez with a shot just under the crossbar.

Despite the fast start from the Big Orange, it was Auburn who had a 10-2 advantage in shots after the first 45 minutes of play. UT did have three corners while holding the Tigers without one in the opening stanza.

A pair of highlight-reel saves from Yanez early in the second half kept the game tied at one. The Downingtown, Pa., native stopped point-blank shots by Folds and Brooke Ramsier to keep UT in it. Yanez finished the game with seven saves.

Tennessee's best chance in the second half resulted from another corner kick by O'Keefe. Wilkinson nearly put the Vols back on top, but her header towards the back post was cleared off the line by a Tigers' defender.

Shortly after, Ramsier put the Tigers ahead for the first time in the game with low strike to the left corner to make it 2-1 with just under 10 minutes left to play. Just a few minutes later, Folds all but put the game away with a great strike to the upper left corner of the net from the corner of the box, giving Auburn a 3-1 lead.

UT will be the No. 7 seed in the SEC Tournament and open play against No. 10 seed Ole Miss on Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET in Orange Beach, Ala. The game will be televised live on the SEC Network.