Vols Claim SEC East Title With 1-0 Triumph Over No. 9 South Carolina

Friday, November 6

Knoxville, TN

6:00 PM

University of Tennessee

4-3-1, 4-3-1

South Carolina

6-2-0, 6-2-0

South Carolina

Tennessee

Vols Claim SEC East Title With 1-0 Triumph Over No. 9 South Carolina

November 06, 2020 | Soccer

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Wrenne French tallied the game-winning score on her Senior Night as the Vols clinched an SEC East division championship with a 1-0 victory over No. 9 South Carolina Friday night at Regal Soccer Stadium.

With the win, Tennessee (4-3-1, 4-3-1 SEC) secured the No. 2 seed and a double-bye into the quarterfinals for next week's SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama. The Vols finished the fall campaign with a 4-1-1 record (13 points) in divisional play, overtaking the Gamecocks who posted a 4-2-0 record (12 points) against SEC East opponents this season.

"I couldn't be more proud of this team," head coach Brian Pensky said after the win. "Earlier this season, our team had a players-only meeting, which can always be dangerous. They can signal that a team is really going to come together, or can be an indication that things are really in trouble. Our players talked about their values and talked about their goals. They wanted to finish top two in the East. They wanted to get a bye in the SEC Tournament. Tonight, they finished number one in the SEC East and got a double-bye in the tournament. I could not be more proud and more pleased. For it to be [Erin Gilroy] and Wrenne's final game here at Regal - pretty darn special night."

After a scoreless opening half, the winning tally came in the 50th minute as French headed in a ball off the corner kick service from sophomore midfielder Claudia Dipasupil. It was the second career goal for French and her first of the 2020-21 campaign.

"My job is just to go up and win it," French said after the match. "Claudia hit an amazing ball in and she made it easy for me. I've been trying to get the ball in the back of the net all season and luckily, I was able to do it tonight. Finishing your regular season and senior year off as champions is just an incredible feeling, and I know that this is something we will remember for the rest of our lives."

With her corner kick Friday night, Dipasupil added to her SEC leading total with five assists this season. In last week's 2-1 win at Florida, the Upper Saddle River, N.J., native had a goal and an assist to earn TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week honors.

"For me personally and I'm sure for others on the team, we played for the seniors tonight," Dipasupil said. "Every time we have an opportunity in the box, it's just making sure that whoever takes the corner is giving the people in there an opportunity to finish it. Wrenne had a great header into the goal and it was my service, but she gets all the credit for that."

The Vols earned their second shutout win over a top-10 opponent this season, as sophomore keeper Lindsey Romig returned from injury and recorded a clean sheet against the league's top scoring offense in South Carolina (6-2-0, 6-2-0). The Midlothian, Virginia, native made three saves on the night.

"Hats off to Lindsey," Pensky said. "She obviously got hurt in the A&M game and missed the Florida game. She was sick as a dog all week, basically in bed Tuesday through Thursday. She trained literally five minutes yesterday and went out there and had a heroic performance tonight."

French's tally proved enough for the win thanks to three outstanding efforts to deny South Carolina on what appeared to be sure goal-scoring opportunities. Isabella Cook recorded her second team save in as many weeks in the eighth minute, stabbing an attempt from the Gamecocks' top scorer Cat Barry off the goal line to keep the match scoreless early on. Tara Katz notched two team saves Friday night, including a header out of the box on Carinna Zullo's shot that was making its way into the right corner of the net in the 81st minute.

"I'd say there were probably three turning points tonight," Pensky said. "Both Tara (Katz) and Isa (Cook) clearing balls off the line. We've actually done that all year, fortunately or unfortunately. We did it against Alabama, and we did it last week against Florida. That's why we have players there. Unfortunately, we gave up five corners, and they were pretty darn dangerous on every single one of them. Thankfully, our kids stayed disciplined. They stayed in their roles and their jobs and made plays on the line."

This marks the first SEC East division championship for Tennessee soccer since 2005, when the Lady Vols won the entire league with a 10-1 conference record. Additionally, Friday's win was UT's first over the Gamecocks since 2012 and the first victory against South Carolina at home since 2007.

Tennessee soccer celebrated its senior duo of Erin Gilroy and Wrenne French Friday night. After both taking the field to start the match, the duo now has combined for 100 career appearances for the Orange and White.

"Wrenne and Erin led this team with amazing grace, love and toughness when needed. I think all those things add up to this being a pretty special night. It was additionally special because, as I just told the team, last year at our last home game, Arkansas won the regular SEC championship on our field. That was devastating, and it became the last game for a lot of really special players here. For one year later, to be able to turn the tide and be champions ourselves, it's a really special feeling for those kids."

UP NEXT: Tennessee will conclude the fall season at next week's SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama. The Vols will open the conference showcase on Tuesday, November 17 in the quarterfinals, facing either the No. 7 or No. 10 seed at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.