No. 21 Tennessee Falls to Georgia In SEC Quarterfinals, 2-0

Tuesday, November 1

Pensacola, Fla.

3:30 PM ET

University of Tennessee

11-5-2, 7-2-1

Georgia

12-5-2, 5-3-2

Georgia

Tennessee

No. 21 Tennessee Falls to Georgia In SEC Quarterfinals, 2-0

November 01, 2022 | Soccer

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By: Kimberly Hood

Pensacola, Fla. – No. 21 Tennessee created chances but struggled to convert, falling 2-0 to sixth-seeded Georgia in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Thursday.

The third-seeded Lady Vols outshot the Bulldogs 15-11 and put six shots on goal to their five but were unable to find the back of the net.

Sophomore Taylor Huff and redshirt-junior Jaida Thomas led UT (11-5-2, 7-2-1 SEC) on offense with three shots apiece. Senior Lindsey Romig played the first 45 minutes of the match before leaving due to injury, logging two saves. Redshirt-freshman Ally Zazzara took over in the second half, making one save.

Dani Murguia and Tori Penn were the goal-scorers for UGA (12-5-2, 5-3-2 SEC), and Jordan Brown tallied five saves in the net.

Tennessee wasted no time launching an attack, driving into the Georgia offensive third and placing a shot on goal that was saved by a Bulldog defender less than a minute into play.

Lawson Renie had another great look for UT in the seventh minute, blasting a header on frame off a corner, but Brown made the diving save.

Georgia got on the board in the 20^th minute when Murguia won the ball from the UT back line and broke through, blasting a shot into the left corner of the net from 22 yards out.

Tennessee nearly evened the score six and a half minutes later when Jenna Stayart ran onto a ball bouncing around in the box and sent a screamer toward the net, but the crossbar prevented the equalizer.

The Bulldogs went up 2-0 in the 34th minute after a frantic exchange in which Jordan Fusco slid to block the initial cross, Romig dove to make the first save, but the second shot found the back of the net as Penn got a foot on the loose ball. That score would hold through the break.

In the 58^th minute, Renie elevated and got a head on another Tennessee corner kick but missed just wide left.

Huff made some space three minutes later, taking an open shot from 20 yards out, but it sailed high. She had another chance just moments later, winning the ball at the half and weaving through the defense to get an open shot from the top of the box, but it went right to the Georgia keeper.

Huff kept up the pressure, spinning around a defender and driving a ball low and on target in the 75^th minute but couldn't sneak it past Brown.

Kameron Simmonds had a narrow miss in the 82^nd minute, skimming the outside of the net, and ripped another from the top of the box four minutes later but missed high, and the clock expired with the score set at 2-0.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will return to Knoxville and await the results of the NCAA Selection Show on Monday.