Vols Out-Shoot Vandy, Lose 1-0 on PK at SECs

Tuesday, October 31

Orange Beach, AL

8:30 pm

University of Tennessee

14-4-1, 6-3-1SEC

Vanderbilt

12-6-1, 6-3-1SEC

Tennessee

Vanderbilt

October 31, 2017 | Soccer

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ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — The Tennessee soccer team outshot Vanderbilt 21 to 2 Thursday but did not get a ball across the goal line in a 1-0 quarterfinal loss in the SEC Tournament.

Just like the regular-season matchup that the Commodores won 2-1, fourth-seeded Vanderbilt (12-6-1) struck first with a penalty kick. This time, it proved to be the game winner.

Defender Stephanie Amack, who took the kick in Nashville, again stepped up and scored to give Vanderbilt in the 1-0 lead in the 50th minute.

Vanderbilt's two shots were the fewest shots Tennessee (13-4-1) has allowed in an SEC Tournament game. It is also the fewest shots the Vols have allowed in a game this season.

"I'm so incredibly disappointed for our players," Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky said. "They were fantastic tonight. We outshot them 21-2, and probably had 80 percent of the possession. They get a PK and win the game. That's soccer. It can be a cruel game. We've all been there before.

"But again, we were terrific. I think we hit four or five posts or crossbars. It just wasn't meant to be."

Junior Khadija Shaw led UT with five shots and junior Anna Bialczak added four.

Fifth-seeded Tennessee controlled possession for much of the first half, outshooting Vanderbilt 10 to 1. Junior Meghan Flynn, making her first start since Sept. 7, had Tennessee's only shot on goal in the period, striking it to Vanderbilt goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner from the left side.

The Vols continued to press Vanderbilt's defense throughout the second half. Freshman Erin Gilroy ricocheted a ball off the top of the crossbar and down, but it did not cross the line. The Vols generated opportunities in the closing minutes, including a header off the crossbar by Flynn.

Notes:
• Thursday marked the first SEC Tournament meeting between Tennessee and Vanderbilt since 2005, a 0-0 tie in the semifinals. UT advanced on penalty kick.
• The NCAA Tournament selection show will be Nov. 6 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern. Tennessee is currently No. 14 in the RPI. Sixty-four teams will be chosen or qualify with automatic conference bids.