University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics
French Selected To TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week
September 29, 2020 | Soccer
CULVER CITY, Calif. — Tennessee senior defender Wrenne French has been named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week, the publication announced Tuesday morning. The center back helped UT shut out No. 10 Vanderbilt on Sunday, playing all 92 minutes as the Vols earned the 1-0 victory over the Commodores in overtime.
Â
French anchored Tennessee's back line against Vanderbilt, as the Vols sported a 5-3-2 formation to counter the Commodore attack. Vanderbilt's star forward Haley Hopkins, who entered the match with 29 career goals, was limited to just one shot on the afternoon.
Â
French — a Franklin, Tennessee, native — also played a key role in setting up the game-winning score for the Volunteers. After Hannah Tillett served a corner kick into the box, French won the head ball that eventually led to redshirt freshman Jaida Thomas tapping in the golden goal from point-blank range.
Sunday's result was the first win for Tennessee over Vanderbilt since 2013, and the program's first win over a top-10 opponent since Oct. 21, 2018 at No. 5 Texas A&M.
"Wrenne has always been very good in the air, and she certainly showed that on Jaida's goal," head coach Brian Pensky said. "She simply rose above the crowd and won that first ball on the game-winning corner kick. Being a Nashville kid, it was a special day for Wrenne."Â
Â
Additionally, Thomas and sophomore keeper Lindsey Romig were named honorable mentions for the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week. Romig logged her fourth-career clean sheet with two saves on the afternoon, while Thomas scored the winner and led the Vols with three shots and two shots on target.
Â
"When a lot of individuals make a lot of plays, your team wins games, and we had that on Sunday,"Â Pensky said. "Wrenne and Lindsey each played big roles in the shutout, and obviously Jaida scored the goal. Really proud of their performances on Sunday."
Â
The Vols continue conference play Friday night at No. 8 Georgia. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the match will be televised on SEC Network.
Â
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
Â
French anchored Tennessee's back line against Vanderbilt, as the Vols sported a 5-3-2 formation to counter the Commodore attack. Vanderbilt's star forward Haley Hopkins, who entered the match with 29 career goals, was limited to just one shot on the afternoon.
Â
French — a Franklin, Tennessee, native — also played a key role in setting up the game-winning score for the Volunteers. After Hannah Tillett served a corner kick into the box, French won the head ball that eventually led to redshirt freshman Jaida Thomas tapping in the golden goal from point-blank range.
Sunday's result was the first win for Tennessee over Vanderbilt since 2013, and the program's first win over a top-10 opponent since Oct. 21, 2018 at No. 5 Texas A&M.
"Wrenne has always been very good in the air, and she certainly showed that on Jaida's goal," head coach Brian Pensky said. "She simply rose above the crowd and won that first ball on the game-winning corner kick. Being a Nashville kid, it was a special day for Wrenne."Â
Â
Additionally, Thomas and sophomore keeper Lindsey Romig were named honorable mentions for the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week. Romig logged her fourth-career clean sheet with two saves on the afternoon, while Thomas scored the winner and led the Vols with three shots and two shots on target.
Â
"When a lot of individuals make a lot of plays, your team wins games, and we had that on Sunday,"Â Pensky said. "Wrenne and Lindsey each played big roles in the shutout, and obviously Jaida scored the goal. Really proud of their performances on Sunday."
Â
The Vols continue conference play Friday night at No. 8 Georgia. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the match will be televised on SEC Network.
Â
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
SOC | Joe Kirt Postgame vs. Texas A&M (9.26.25)
Friday, September 26
SOC | Mattern & Norris Postgame vs. Texas A&M (9.26.25)
Friday, September 26
SOC | Leah Klurman & Cayden Norris Postgame vs. LSU (9.21.25)
Sunday, September 21
SOC | Joe Kirt Postgame vs. LSU (9.21.25)
Sunday, September 21
