UT Beats HPU 2-0, Notches Sixth Straight Shutout

Sunday, September 5

Knoxville, TN

6:30 PM

University of Tennessee

6-0-0, 0-0-0

High Point

0-4-1, 0-0-0

High Point

Tennessee

September 05, 2021 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Kimberly Hood

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 22 Tennessee got its sixth straight shutout on Sunday night, taking a 2-0 victory over High Point.

UT (6-0-0) has now held opponents scoreless for 540 minutes this season, setting a new single-season program record. The previous record was 533:22 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.

"This is six games without giving up a goal, so we're pretty proud of that," said Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky. "It's about not giving away opportunities and not giving away goals. Obviously, we gave up some chances at South Florida, but that's a great team. But beyond that game, in the other five games, I think we're probably averaging giving up three or four shots a game. It's a pretty connected effort. It's our back line, and it's our defensive center midfielders, but it's also the front kids doing a ton of work up there making sure the ball never reaches the back line, so it's a collective team effort."

The Volunteers' goals came off a penalty kick by junior Claudia Dipasupil and an own goal. Junior goalkeeper Lindsey Romig recorded her fifth clean sheet of the season, making one save on the night.

For HPU (0-4-1), goalkeeper Morgan Hairston logged 12 saves.

Tennessee dominated possession in the first half, getting off 18 shots and 10 corner kicks while holding the Panthers to one shot.

Dipasupil put away a penalty kick at the 28-minute mark after Abbey Burdette was fouled in the box. Dipasupil didn't give Hairston a chance at a save, placing it well out of reach in the top left corner.

UT continued to get chances in the second half, peppering the Panthers with 19 shots and taking six corner kicks.

Redshirt-sophomore Jaida Thomas had an excellent look in the 54^th minute, getting her head on a cross at close range, but Hairston was there to make the save.

Dipasupil also got a quality shot off, blasting one from 25 yards out low and to the left in the 80^th minute, forcing Hairston to make a diving save.

The final goal of the night came with just over a minute left in the match off a missed clearance from a Taylor Huff cross.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will be back in action on Sunday, facing Chattanooga on the road at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

DIPASUPIL STEPPING UP: Junior Claudia Dipasupil scored her fourth goal of the season against HPU. With four goals and two assists, she currently leads the team in points with 10.

FIRST STARTS: Freshman Jordan Fusco and senior Hannah Zaluski each earned their first starts as Volunteers against High Point, suiting up in the midfield.

HOT START: UT's six wins to start the 2021 campaign is the most wins in a row at the outset of a season since the Big Orange started with nine straight wins in 2017.

BENCH CONTRIBUTING: With Dipasupil's goal against HPU, 10 of 22 UT goals on the season have been scored by players coming off the bench.