Vols Drop Regular Season Finale to #6 Arkansas, 3-1

Thursday, October 31

Knoxville, TN

7:00 PM

University of Tennessee

9-6-3, 3-5-2

Arkansas

14-2-2, 8-1-1

Arkansas

Tennessee

October 31, 2019 | Soccer

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee soccer team dropped its season finale to No. 6 Arkansas Thursday night, 3-1. Senior forward Michelle Alozie accounted for UT's only score on the night early in the second half.

"I thought our kids played really hard," head coach Brian Pensky said after the match. "They're an athletic team, they're an organized team, they're hard-nosed and they competed. I'm really proud of how we came out to start the second half, thought we came out with great energy and some effectiveness... The belief never died until the end. We just kept fighting and had a couple good looks but they made some great saves. I'm really gutted for our seniors right now for this to have to be their last home game on senior night."

Trailing 2-0 in the 52nd minute, Tennessee (9-6-3, 3-5-2 SEC) cut the Razorback lead in half on Alozie's score from point blank range, connecting on the end of a cross from the left side from senior defender MA Vignola. It was the third goal of the season for Alozie and team-high fifth assist on the year for Vignola.

Arkansas (14-2-2, 8-1-1 SEC) opened the scoring in the 35th minute on a penalty kick from junior midfielder Parker Goins after Abbey Burdette was called for a hand ball in the box. It was just the third first-half goal allowed by the Vols this season.

Leading 1-0 at halftime, the Razorbacks amassed a 10-3 lead in shots with a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. Freshman goalie Lindsey Romig hauled in five saves in the opening 45 minutes, while Arkansas had two corner kicks compared to none for Tennessee.

The Razorbacks doubled their lead in the 51st minute as Tori Cannata's shot from 20 yards went off the left woodwork into the back of the net. After the Vols pulled one back, Arkansas took a 3-1 lead as Bryana Hunter headed the ball in from close range in the 58th minute.

Vignola provided a spark for the Tennessee attack with a handful of close chances in the second half, including a shot off the cross bar in the 69th minute and a pair of shots on frame in the 70th and 89th minutes.

The Razorbacks outshot the Vols 17-12 with a 5-1 lead in corner kicks despite Tennessee's 57-43 possession advantage for the match. Romig and Charli Pogany split time between the posts with five and two saves respectively on the night.

With the result, Arkansas clinched its first outright SEC regular season title in program history. Meanwhile, other results around the league eliminated the Vols from SEC Tournament contention.

"Each [senior] in their own way has been a special part of my life and this program, helping get this program back to an elite status," Pensky said. "I am fortunate to call myself the coach of kids like Salera, Michelle, Maya, Katie, Claire, and Mary Alice. They've each grown so much as players and grown so much as people, and really become mature young women. That's what this is about at the end of the day. We're in a place of education and you want to see kids grow and become young women. I'm just so sad for them and their departure."

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