Lady Vols Fall To Georgia, 2-1

Friday, October 13

Knoxville

7:00 PM

University of Tennessee

6-4-4, 1-3-3

Georgia

7-3-4, 3-2-2

Georgia

Tennessee

October 13, 2023 | Soccer

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By: Kimberly Hood

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Lady Vols suffered a 2-1 setback against Georgia on Friday in Regal Stadium.

Freshman Kate Runyon found the net for the Lady Vols (6-4-4, 1-3-3 SEC) off an assist from junior Jordan Fusco. Redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz made the start in goal, and redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara took over in the second half, recording one save.

Hannah White and Summer Denigan were the goal-scorers for the Bulldogs (7-3-4, 3-2-2 SEC). In goal, Jordan Brown logged three saves.

"We continued to get chances," said Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt.

"(We) continued to fight and compete. This team has great heart. The crowd tonight was fantastic. (I'm) incredibly disappointed in the result, because our team left it out there, and they continued to fight for 90 minutes. We have a lot left to play for. (I'm) disappointed in the result, and disappointed for our team, but they continued to fight for 90 minutes, and I'm proud of them for that."

The Lady Vols wasted no time getting on the board, going up by one 30 seconds into the game when Fusco played a ball to Runyon in the box who ricocheted a shot off the left goalpost and into the net from eight yards out.

Georgia leveled the score a minute later when White ripped a shot from the edge of the box and placed it far post.

Fusco put a shot on frame in the 12^th minute, forcing Brown into a diving save, but neither team was able to find the net again before the end of the first half.

Fusco put another shot low and on frame three minutes into the second half. Brown knocked it over the end line to give UT a corner kick, but UGA was able to clear.

The Bulldogs went up 2-1 with 16:25 left to go in the match when Mallie Mckenzie drove toward the end line and played a ball back to Denigan who buried it from just inside the box.

With just under three minutes remaining, Runyon blasted a shot from the top of the box, but Brown collected the save, and Georgia ran out the clock for the 2-1 victory.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will hit the road, traveling to Columbia for a 7 p.m. ET matchup on Thursday.