No. 10 UT Falls to Vanderbilt in Overtime, 2-1

Thursday, October 21

Nashville, TN

8:00 PM

University of Tennessee

13-2-0, 6-2-0

Vanderbilt

7-7-2, 4-3-1

Tennessee

Vanderbilt

October 22, 2021 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Kimberly Hood

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The tenth-ranked Volunteers suffered their second loss of the season on Thursday, falling at Vanderbilt in overtime, 2-1.

UT (13-2-0, 6-2-0 SEC) set the pace offensively, outshooting the Commodores 21-7 and maintaining possession for 56 percent of the contest, but struggled to find the net. Senior Mackenzie George was the goal-scorer for Tennessee, and senior Abbey Burdette logged an assist.

Vanderbilt (7-7-2, 4-3-1 SEC) was led by Abi Brighton and Peyton Cutshall who each tallied goals.

"This one stings for all of the obvious reasons," said Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky. "Our team played extremely well. We were dangerous for large portions of the game; we just couldn't find that second goal, and unfortunately, they did. We have a great challenge and opportunity ahead of us now, putting this behind us and getting ready for another very good opponent in Georgia."

Tennessee wasted no time putting the pressure on, with Jaida Thomas getting a good look in the 10th minute but missing wide right off a cross from Taylor Huff. Claudia Dipasupil rocketed one from inside the box two minutes later, but a Vandy defender was there to make the save.

Vanderbilt took the lead in the 13^th minute when Brighton caught the rebound off a set piece, sliding the ball in from two yards off the goal line.

Tennessee outshot VU 8-0 following the Vandy goal, but couldn't convert, trailing 1-0 at halftime.

George evened the score just four minutes into the second half, splitting two defenders to drive a shot into the lower right corner of the goal from 13 yards out. Burdette logged her second assist of the season on the play.

Quinn Cornog put a header on frame for Vandy in the 67^th minute, but Lindsey Romig was there to make the save.

Freshman Jordan Fusco got off three quality shots in a row between the 72^nd and 80^th minute, all from the top of the eighteen, but Kate Devine made two diving saves and the other sailed high.

Tennessee held the Commodores without a shot through the end of regulation, but couldn't find the go-ahead goal, sending the game into overtime.

Fusco and fellow freshman Claire Rain each got a shot off in the first two minutes of extra time, but it would be Vanderbilt who found the net first, scoring on a Shamburger header in the 94^th minute.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will close out the regular season with a two-game homestand, hosting Georgia in a 5 p.m. ET matchup on Sunday and Kentucky in a 6 p.m. ET contest on Thursday for Senior Night. The match against Georgia will be streamed on SECN+ while the UK game will be broadcast by the SEC Network.