University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
LSU
MATCH CENTRAL: Tennessee at LSU
October 05, 2023 | Soccer
The Lady Vols will continue SEC play on the road, traveling to LSU for a 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT) matchup on Sunday. Â
In their last outing, the Lady Vols (6-2-4, 1-1-3 SEC) played an undefeated Kentucky squad ranked No. 18 to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 1,096 in Regal Stadium on Thursday. Graduate Nayeli Diaz put Tennessee (6-2-4, 1-1-3 SEC) on the board in the 69th minute, tallying her first goal on Rocky Top. Redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz made the start in goal, and redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara took over in the second half, logging a season-high-tying four saves on the night.
The Tigers (7-5-1, 2-3-0 SEC) are coming off a 1-0 loss at No. 13 South Carolina on Thursday.
THE LAST TIME WE MET: LSU and Tennessee faced off last season on Oct. 14, playing to a 0-0 draw in Regal Stadium. Â
VS THE TIGERS: Tennessee's all-time record against LSU is 14-4-5. The Lady Vols have not lost to the Tigers in the regular season since a 2-0 defeat in Baton Rouge in 2011. UT is 5-3-1 when playing at LSU. Â
SCOUTING LSU: LSU was picked to finish eighth in the SEC as voted on by the league's coaches. The Tigers returned eight starters from the 2022 squad that finished 10-4-7 and added six newcomers. Sophomore midfielder Ida Hermannsdottir currently leads the team with four goals and 10 points.
VS RANKED TEAMS: The Lady Vols are 0-1-2 against ranked opponents this season, falling to No. 11 Arkansas (3-1) at home and drawing at No. 7 South Carolina (1-1) and against No. 18 Kentucky (1-1).
SECOND HALF TEAM: The Lady Vols have netted five goals over the last three contests, all of which have come in the second half. On the season, 16 of Tennessee's 26 goals have been scored in the second half, with nine of those coming in the final 20 minutes of the match.
THOMAS IN THE RECORD BOOK: Before suffering a season-ending injury, redshirt-senior Jaida Thomas moved her career total to 39 goals to trail UT's leading career scorer, Kylie Rossi, by just four goals. Thomas amassed her 39 goals in just 59 games for a goals-per-game average of .66 to rank third all-time at Tennessee behind only Bunny Shaw (0.77) and Allison Campbell (0.70).
IN THEIR OFFENSIVE THIRD: On the season, UT has taken more than twice as many shots as it has allowed, outshooting opponents 214-104, and taking 105 corner kicks while limiting the opposition to just 30. Tennessee currently ranks third in Division I in corner kicks per game (8.67) and 18th in shots per game (17.83).
EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: UT's 26 goals thus far have been scored by 11 different players. Freshmen Sarah Greiner, Kate Runyon (3) and Keaton Mitchell, sophomore Kameron Simmonds (6), juniors Jordan Fusco (3) and Nolyn Bartholomew, redshirt-seniors Maria Nelson (2) and Jaida Thomas, senior Lawson Renie and graduates Sizzy Lawton (4) and Nayeli Diaz have all found the back of the net for the Big Orange. Own goals by ETSU and MSU rounds out the total.
FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTING: All four of UT's active freshmen have recorded at least one goal or assist on the season. Forward Kate Runyon has made seven starts, logging three goals and an assist. Fellow rookies Keaton Mitchell and Sarah Greiner have both tallied goals, and Linette Hofmann has started 10 contests, recording an assist in the season opener against Cal.
NEW FACES: Tennessee added 10 newcomers in its 2023 signing class. All 10 are versatile field players with six enrolling as freshmen and four arriving as transfers with multiple years of collegiate experience.
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BACK AGAIN: The Lady Vols return five starters and 20 letterwinners from the 2022 team that clinched an SEC East Division title for the third straight season.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH:Â Redshirt senior Jaida Thomas, senior Lawson Renie, juniors Sheridan Michel and Jordan Fusco, and sophomore Kameron Simmonds were all named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.
 UP NEXT: Tennessee will return home for a 7 p.m. ET matchup with Georgia on Friday.Â
