Sept. 20, 2016

Watch Live Stats Game Notes

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Coming off their first SEC win last Thursday over Missouri, the Volunteers hit the road this week for a pair of conference games, starting with a trip to Georgia on Thursday night at 7 p.m.

GAME INFO

Tennessee at Georgia

Opponent: Georgia Bulldogs
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 22 / 7 p.m. ET
Location/Venue: Athens, Ga. / Georgia Soccer Stadium (1,750)
TV: SEC Network +/WatchESPN (Online Only)
Live Stats: UTSports.com

TEAM INFO

Tennessee Volunteers (5-4, 1-1 SEC)

Roster Schedule Stats

Georgia Bulldogs (3-5-1, 0-2 SEC)

Roster Schedule Stats

Need to Know

Tennessee is coming off back-to-back wins for the first time this season after taking down Missouri, 2-0, last Thursday night. Michele Christy scored the game-winner with her first goal of the year in the 32nd minute while Mary Alice Vignola added her second goal in as many games to help lead the Vols to their first SEC victory this season. Shae Yanez and Jamie Simmons both played a half in goal to combine for the team's fourth shutout this season.

Offensive Surge

Tennessee's attack keeps improving after a tough start to the season. UT has scored multiple goals in five of its past six games after only scoring two or more goals five times all of last season. The Vols scored just one goal in their first three games, but have drastically improved offensively with 14 goals in their previous six matches. Nine different players have scored goals and 12 have gotten on the scoresheet at least once this year.

Wilkinson in Form

UT's active points leader is in top form after returning to the lineup on Aug. 25 against Washington. The New Zealand international has recorded at least one point in five of UT's last six contests and is tied for the team lead with three goals and 10 points this season. Wilkinson had a career-best two assists in last Thursday's win over Missouri and scored her third goal of the year in a 3-0 win over Middle Tennessee on Sept. 11 to move into a tie for eighth on Tennessee's career goals chart with 25. She needs just two points to crack the Vols' top 10 for career points as well. Wilkinson posted her fourth-career multi-goal performance in a loss at No. 10 BYU on Sept. 2 and has three multi-point efforts so far this season.

Breakout Year for O'Keefe

Vols' sophomore midfielder Rylie O'Keefe is in the midst of a breakout season. The Littleton, Colo., native has already more than doubled her point total from last season and is tied for sixth in the nation with six assists already this year. O'Keefe's 10 points are tied for first on the team and she has scored or assisted on eight of UT's 15 goals this season.

New Faces in the Back Four

Tennessee has started to find its groove defensively after posting consecutive shutouts for the first time this season. The Vols benefited greatly from the move of Maya Neal and Danielle Marcano, normally attacking players, to the back four last week. That pair along with Kathryn Culhane and Emily Morrow stifled Missouri's high-powered attack in last Thursday's 2-0 win. Fans can look forward to seeing more from that foursome in the back as the season progress.

Know the Foe

Georgia

The Bulldogs enter Thursday's game looking to right the ship after suffering loses in four of their last five contests. Georgia will also be looking to earn its first victory in SEC play this season after falling to South Carolina and Texas A&M on the road earlier this month. Senior forwards Marion Crowder and Lauren Tanner are tied for the team lead with seven points each while combining for five of the team's nine goals this year. Louise Hogrell has played almost every minute in goal for the Bulldogs and leads the SEC with 47 saves.

UT's All-Time Record vs. Georgia: 14-8-0

Tennessee's 14 victories over Georgia are tied for the most it has against any program. The Vols have won four of the last five meetings in the series, including a 1-0 win in Knoxville last season.

What's Next?

The Big Orange remain on the road to finish off the week, traveling to #12/9 Florida on Sunday for a showdown against the Gators at 5 p.m. on the SEC Network.