Soccer Central: at App State

Saturday, February 20

Boone, NC

12:00 PM

University of Tennessee

App State

KNOXVILLE, TN - 2021.02.14 - Tennessee vs. Gardner-Webb

Photo by: Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

February 19, 2021 | Soccer

Live Stats

BOONE, N.C. - The Tennessee soccer team returns to action this weekend with its first road match of the spring, visiting Appalachian State on Saturday. Kickoff between the Volunteers and Mountaineers is scheduled for noon at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.

Live stats for Saturday's contest will be provided via StatBroadcast, and fans can follow along with @Vol_Soccer on Twitter for live match updates.

LAST TIME OUT: The Vols opened the 2021 spring slate on Valentine's Day with a decisive 6-0 victory at home over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs. Redshirt freshman forward Jaida Thomas paced UT with her first career hat trick, while Abbey Burdette, Giselle Washington and Mackenzie George also contributed scores for the Big Orange.

All six of Tennessee's goals came in the opening frame, marking the program's most scores in a half since also netting six in the second half of an 8-0 win over Belmont on September 13, 2015.

Sophomore keeper Lindsey Romig logged her third solo shutout of the 2020-21 season while hauling in six saves. Center backs Mackenzie Ostrom and Washington played all 90 minutes to help UT secure the clean sheet.

THOMAS HONORED: Following her performance against Gardner-Webb, rookie forward Jaida Thomas was recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.com on the publication's Team of the Week. The Irving, Texas, native scored three-consecutive goals in a 15-minute span to put the match out of reach early in the first half.

Thomas' three goals were the most by a Vol in a single match since Bunny Shaw scored thrice in a 3-1 win at Kentucky on September 28, 2018. Thomas also made history as the first UT freshman with a hat trick since former Lady Vol All-American Keeley Dowling had three goals at Alabama on October 7, 2001.

BURDETTE STRIKES EARLY: Abbey Burdette had the game-winner in Tennessee's spring opener vs. Gardner-Webb, connecting on a 25-yard strike into the upper right corner just 75 seconds into the match. It was the first time Burdette started in an attacking position for UT after spending the first two and a half years of her collegiate career as an outside back.

Burdette's only other goal as a Vol also came in the second minute, scoring 81 seconds in at Kentucky off a corner kick service from Claudia Dipasupil on October 18, 2020.

SERIES HISTORY: Sunday's match will be the first meeting between Tennessee and App State. The Vols own a perfect 4-0 record against current members of the Sun Belt Conference.

SCOUTING APP STATE: The Mountaineers will be making their spring debut on Sunday following a 5-9-1 record during the 2020 fall semester, with 10 of 15 contests decided by one goal or less. App State went 4-6 in Sun Belt play and picked up a win over ULM in the first round of the conference tournament before being eliminated by top-seeded Arkansas State.

Five Mountaineer returners scored goals in the fall, led by freshman forward Izzi Wood who had two scores in her debut semester. Keeper Kerry Eagleston started all 15 matches for App State, recording 61 saves and a 1.39 goals-against average.

UP NEXT: The Vols will return home to take on defending Big East Conference champion Xavier next weekend. The match is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 28 at Regal Soccer Stadium.

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