UT Takes Down Tennessee Tech, 7-0

Sunday, September 4

Knoxville

7 PM

University of Tennessee

2-2-1, 0-0-0

Tennessee Tech

1-3-2, 0-0-0

Tennessee Tech

Tennessee

September 04, 2022 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Kimberly Hood

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee posted its second straight shutout on Sunday, defeating Tennessee Tech in Regal Stadium, 7-0.

The Lady Vols (2-2-1) scored early and often against the Golden Eagles (1-3-2), netting seven goals on the night. Sophomore Jordan Fusco carded a brace while fifth-year seniors Abbey Burdette and Mackenzie George, redshirt-junior Jaida Thomas, sophomore Taylor Huff and freshman Macaira Midgley each added one.

In goal, three Tennessee keepers split time, with senior Lindsey Romig getting the start and earning two saves, redshirt-freshman Ally Zazzara playing the first 25 minutes of the second half, and junior MacKenzie Haba closing out the contest with two saves.

Tennessee Tech tallied eight shots on the night, four of which were on goal.

"We talked about the tempo and the standard before we went out there tonight. We had two separate halves in Bowling Green. In the first half, we were slow and a little bit chaotic. And then moving to the second half, we really picked up the tempo and were more urgent," said Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt.

"We talked about it before the game asking, 'Which team is going to show up (tonight) and what standard are you guys going to hold yourself to? Are we going to be the first half team from Wednesday or the second half?' And today it was the second half. They were focused and ready to go from the first five minutes, and they were dialed in."

Fusco was first to strike for the Lady Vols, netting her first goal of the season three and a half minutes into the game when she ran onto a ball at the top of the box and sent a one-touch blast into the lower right corner of the net.

Thirty seconds later Huff added another, beating three TTU defenders to send a left-footed shot low and past the keeper from close range.

Burdette added her first goal of the year in the 27th minute, slotting a ball into the net off a corner kick from senior Claudia Dipasupil.

UT's last goal of the half came three minutes later when Thomas knocked down a cross from George and volleyed a shot into the top right corner from 12 yards out.

Fusco opened the scoring in the second half as well, sending a blast far post from 22 yards out off a pass from Thomas in the 53^rd minute.

Three minutes later George got a head on a cross from redshirt-junior Maria Nelson to log her first goal of the year.

Midgley rounded out the scoring for Tennessee, netting her first collegiate goal in the 75^th minute with a laser into the upper right corner of the goal from 20 yards out.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will play their fifth straight home game on Thursday, welcoming Kennesaw State for a 6:30 p.m. ET matchup. The contest will be streamed on SECN+.

TRACKING THOMAS: Redshirt-junior Jaida Thomas has now tallied five goals over the last four games, moving her career total to 30. She stands alone at third on UT's all-time career goals list, trailing No. 2 Hannah Wilkinson by three and No. 1 Kylee Rossi by 13.

JUST HUFF THINGS: Through the four games in which she's been active, sophomore Taylor Huff has racked up three goals and two assists. The 2021 SEC Freshman of the Year has taken 15 shots, 10 of which have been on frame.