Lady Vols Overwhelm #13 Ole Miss, Log 1-0 Road Win

Friday, September 30

Oxford, Miss

8 PM

University of Tennessee

7-3-1, 3-1-0

Ole Miss

9-1-2, 3-1-0

Tennessee

Ole Miss

Photo by: Ian Cox/Tennessee Athletics

September 30, 2022 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

By: Kimberly Hood

OXFORD, Miss. – The Lady Vols picked up a 1-0 win over #13 Ole Miss on Friday to remain undefeated in Oxford and improve their overall record against UM to 18-4-2.

Tennessee (7-3-1, 3-1 SEC) dominated possession, taking 18 shots to just nine by the Rebels and 12 corner kicks to their two.

Redshirt-junior Jaida Thomas scored the lone goal of the match in the 79^th minute off a cross from senior Claudia Dipasupil. Senior Lindsey Romig recorded three saves in the game.

Price Loposer led the Rebels (9-1-2, 3-1 SEC) offensively, taking three shots on the night. In goal, Ashley Orkus collected seven saves.

"This was an inspired performance from our team tonight against a talented, organized and undefeated Ole Miss team. We competed at a very high level in all positions. Our midfield was very good tonight - connecting our lines, securing balls and getting forward to help us create a good number of quality chances in the attack. We asked for a little more from our forwards this game, and they delivered. Our backs and goalkeeper deserved the shutout tonight," said Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt.

"We were solid for 90 minutes, winning entry balls and limiting Ole Miss's dead-ball restarts. We were composed on the ball, recognizing pressure and making great decisions to solve it. Our players take a ton of pride in how they approach road games, and tonight was a perfect example of that. They were disciplined, competitive and composed. It's great to get a Top-15 win on the road."

Tennessee got off three shots and took four corners in the opening 15 minutes of the match while holding UM to just one shot.

Thomas broke behind the Ole Miss defense in the 26^th minute and played the ball across the middle, but Tennessee couldn't get anyone into the box before it was cleared.

Jordan Fusco got a quality look in the 30^th minute, running onto a deflected Taylor Huff shot, but it sailed high over the crossbar.

Tennessee maintained possession well during the closing minutes of the half, but the shot by Fusco proved to be the last scoring opportunity for either team as the game went to halftime tied at zero.

The Lady Vols came out of the locker room aggressive offensively, getting the ball into the box four minutes into the second half for Taylor Huff to get a contested shot off from eight yards out, but it missed high.

Two minutes later, Thomas ripped a shot from beyond the 18-yard box, forcing Orkus into a diving save.

Huff put a shot on goal in the 58^th minute that was bobbled by Orkus, and Thomas ran onto it, but Orkus dove on the shot to keep the score tied at zero.

Tennessee got another chance with just over 22 minutes left in the game when Huff won possession at the half line and found Mackenzie George streaking down the right sideline. George got off a good cross to Kameron Simmonds at the six-yard box, but the UM defense was able to clear.

Ole Miss got its best opportunity up unto that point in the 77^th minute when Stella Downing ran onto a loose ball and sent a screamer toward the Tennessee goal, but a host of UT defenders converged to deflect the shot.

Thomas put the Lady Vols on the board in the 79^th minute, sending a perfectly placed header into the side net off a cross from Dipasupil.

UT nearly added a second goal two minutes later when Huff blasted one off the right goal post and Fusco ran onto the rebound, but the follow-up missed wide.

Romig came up with a crucial save in the 88^th minute, getting a hand on a well-struck blast by O'Conner to tip it over the goal and secure the victory for Tennessee.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will return home for a 7 p.m. ET match against Missouri on Thursday that will be streamed on SECN+.

GIRL ON FIRE: Thomas has racked up 10 goals and two assists over the last 10 games to lead the SEC in total goals, goals per game and points per game. Coming into tonight's match, her 0.90 goals per game ranked ninth in the nation, and her 2.00 points per game tied for ninth.