University of Tennessee Athletics
Thomas Tabbed SEC Freshman of the Week
September 28, 2020 | Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee redshirt freshman forward Jaida Thomas has been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
The Irving, Texas, native scored the golden goal to lift the Vols to a 1-0 overtime victory over No. 10 Vanderbilt on Sunday. The result marked Tennessee's first win over the Commodores since 2013 and the program's first win over a top-10 team since Oct. 21, 2018 at No. 5 Texas A&M.
Thomas' match-winner came in the 92nd minute off a corner kick service from junior midfielder Hannah Tillett. Wrenne French won a header in the box, Mackenzie George corralled it, and Thomas finished it with her right foot into the right corner of the net to give UT the sudden death victory.
It was the first career goal for Thomas, who was making her second appearance for the Big Orange after sitting out last fall due to offseason surgery. She made her collegiate debut last week, coming off the bench and playing 32 minutes at Alabama.
"What a nice honor for Jaida," head coach Brian Pensky said. "Hats off to her, because she was also the one who created the corner kick to set up the game-winner. Then it became a team play. Great ball in from Hannah Tillett, Wrenne French got above everyone and won the head ball, Mackenzie George kept the play alive by screening their keeper, and then Jaida just hunted down that loose ball and tucked it in the corner.
"A well-deserved recognition for Jaida, with her teammates doing the things that put her in a place to make that play."
Thomas is the first Vol to receive a weekly conference honor this season, and the first to be named SEC Freshman of the Week since Isabella Cook on Oct. 7, 2019.
Tennessee continues conference play at Georgia this week, as the Vols and Bulldogs square off on Friday, October 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the match will be televised on SEC Network.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
The Irving, Texas, native scored the golden goal to lift the Vols to a 1-0 overtime victory over No. 10 Vanderbilt on Sunday. The result marked Tennessee's first win over the Commodores since 2013 and the program's first win over a top-10 team since Oct. 21, 2018 at No. 5 Texas A&M.
Thomas' match-winner came in the 92nd minute off a corner kick service from junior midfielder Hannah Tillett. Wrenne French won a header in the box, Mackenzie George corralled it, and Thomas finished it with her right foot into the right corner of the net to give UT the sudden death victory.
It was the first career goal for Thomas, who was making her second appearance for the Big Orange after sitting out last fall due to offseason surgery. She made her collegiate debut last week, coming off the bench and playing 32 minutes at Alabama.
"What a nice honor for Jaida," head coach Brian Pensky said. "Hats off to her, because she was also the one who created the corner kick to set up the game-winner. Then it became a team play. Great ball in from Hannah Tillett, Wrenne French got above everyone and won the head ball, Mackenzie George kept the play alive by screening their keeper, and then Jaida just hunted down that loose ball and tucked it in the corner.
"A well-deserved recognition for Jaida, with her teammates doing the things that put her in a place to make that play."
Thomas is the first Vol to receive a weekly conference honor this season, and the first to be named SEC Freshman of the Week since Isabella Cook on Oct. 7, 2019.
Tennessee continues conference play at Georgia this week, as the Vols and Bulldogs square off on Friday, October 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the match will be televised on SEC Network.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
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