No. 13 UT Suffers First Loss At No. RV Arkansas

Friday, September 17

Fayetteville, AR

8:00 PM

University of Tennessee

7-1-0, 0-1-0

Arkansas

5-2-0, 1-0-0

Tennessee

Arkansas

Photo by: Emma Corona/Tennessee Athletics

September 17, 2021 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Kimberly Hood

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 13 Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season on Friday, falling to No. RV Arkansas on the road in the SEC opener, 3-1.

Freshman Claire Rain was the goal-scorer for Tennessee (7-1, 0-1 SEC), logging her first collegiate goal.

Arkansas (5-2, 1-0 SEC), who tied for first in the SEC preseason rankings as voted on by league's coaches, got goals from Jessica De Filippo, Anna Podojil and Parker Goins.

"It was a tough loss. Our kids competed hard. Arkansas is always a tough team to play against," said Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky. "Unfortunately for our kids, they were just a little better than us in a few key moments. But we will learn a lot from this game, and bounce back the right way."

The Razorbacks came out hot with De Filippo sneaking through the back line and one-touching a shot far post three and a half minutes into play.

Goins put UA up 2-0 at the at the 22-minute mark, driving a ball in from outside the box.

Tennessee got a couple crosses into the box in the closing minutes of the half, but was unable to convert, trailing 2-0 at the half.

Podojil scored Arkansas' final goal of the game a minute into the second half, putting a well-placed ball into the far corner from 12 yards out.

Tennessee increased the tempo, with senior Mackenzie George drilling one off the post at the 56-minute mark before Rain found the back of the net three minutes later, driving one in from just outside the box.

The Vols kept the pressure on, seeing opportunities with free kicks and a couple chances inside the box, but couldn't add to its tally.

UP NEXT: Tennessee returns home to host No. 12 Auburn on Thursday at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on SECN+.

RECORD SHUT OUT STREAK: Tennessee held opponents scoreless this season until Arkansas' first goal, for a total of 633:53. That number shatters the previous record of 533:22 of set in 2012, spanning from the 6:33 mark at Western Kentucky on Aug. 19 through 53:24 at No. 1 UCLA on Sept. 9.

A BALANCED ATTACK: With Claire Rain's goal, 12 different Vols have now scored at least one goal this season.