Vols Drop Sunday Road Tilt At Cincinnati, 2-1

Sunday, March 21

Cincinnati, OH

1:00 PM

University of Tennessee

8-5-1, 4-3-1

Cincinnati

2-4-0, 1-3-0

Tennessee

Cincinnati

Photo by: Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

March 21, 2021 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

CINCINNATI — Tennessee suffered its first loss of the spring semester Sunday afternoon by a score of 2-1 at Cincinnati. All three goals came in an eight-minute span late in the second half, with the Bearcats putting the match away in the 83rd minute on a header from sophomore forward Kendall Battle.

"Unfortunately we learned a cruel lesson today," head coach Brian Pensky said after the match. "If you don't come to play, you give your opponent a chance. That is 100 percent what took place today. We all own it. It's on all of us. That's what being a team means. We weren't sharp. We didn't compete the way we needed to, and now all of a sudden, we've given Cincinnati some belief. And they sure ran with that belief. Cincinnati played their tails off and deserved to beat us. They're a good team, and they showed that today. But we certainly didn't give them our best shot, and that is pretty disappointing."

After nearly 75 minutes of scoreless action, Cincinnati (2-4, 1-3 AAC) broke through first as freshman midfielder Lauren Bastian converted a penalty kick for her first career goal. The chance was awarded following a tripping foul in the box committed by Tennessee midfielder Carlyn Presley.

The match was level two minutes later when junior All-SEC forward Mackenzie George ripped an 18-yard shot from the left side that was blocked by Bearcat defender Alli Pestaina and deflected past the keeper for an own goal.

The final score was cemented by Battle, who connected on a header from close range into the lower right corner. The goal was assisted by midfielder Chloe Spitler and Bastian, as Spitler poked a pass toward the right wing before Bastian served a curling cross towards the six-yard box that found Battle's noggin.

Tennessee (8-5-1, 4-3-1 SEC) had a handful opportunities in the closing minutes, including three corner kicks, but was unable to force extra time.

Cincinnati had 16 shots on the afternoon compared to seven for the Vols, while Tennessee held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks for the match. UT put just one shot on target when George's 10-yard attempt was stabbed out by Bearcat keeper Anna Rexford late in the first frame.

Lady Vol sophomore Lindsey Romig made her 13th start of the season in goal, playing the opening 45 minutes and recording three saves to keep the first half scoreless. After Romig exited the game at halftime due to injury, freshman MacKenzie Haba from Kingston, Tennessee, made her college soccer debut and had a pair of saves in the second half.

UP NEXT: The Vols will host the most storied program in women's college soccer, North Carolina, for the 2020-21 home finale on Saturday, March 27. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Regal Soccer Stadium.

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