University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Xavier
MATCH CENTRAL: Lady Vols at #17 Xavier
November 10, 2023 | Soccer
UT enters the NCAA Tournament as an unseeded at-large bid with a record of 8-6-4 and an RPI ranking of 32.
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Xavier earned a No. 4 seed as an at-large bid with a record of 14-3-4, having posted a record of 6-0-4 in conference play to finish with a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title.  The Musketeers are currently sitting at No. 17 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 19 in the RPI and are coming off a 2-0 loss to Georgetown in the championship match of the BIG EAST Tournament.
The teams have met seven times previously, including the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season when XU took a 4-1 win in double overtime. Overall, the Lady Vols hold a 4-3-0 advantage in the series.
UP NEXT: The winner advances to the NCAA Second Round to be held on Nov. 17 at campus sites.
TENNESSEE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: UT will be making its third straight and 15th overall NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. Tennessee has a 16-12-3 record in the tournament and has reached the NCAA Round of 16 seven times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2018, 2021). The Big Orange is 9-4-1 in first-round matches but is looking for its first win when opening the tournament on a seeded opponent's home turf.
TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE: Eight active members of the Lady Vols roster saw action in last year's NCAA Tournament against Xavier, and four took the field with the 2021 squad that defeated Lipscomb and No. 15 Washington State to advance to the NCAA Round of 16.
SCOUTING XU: The Musketeers have tallied 34 goals through 21 matches and average 17.5 shots per game. On offense, they are led in scoring and points by junior midfielder Samantha Wiehe who earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors with seven goals and six assists on the year. On defense, Natalie Bain was named All-Big EAST First Team.
IN THEIR OFFENSIVE THIRD: On the season, UT has taken nearly 100 more shots than its opponents, outshooting teams 276-179, and taking 127 corner kicks while limiting the opposition to just 66. Tennessee currently ties for 11th in Division I in corner kicks per game (7.00).
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS: Junior Jordan Fusco was named First Team All-SEC, graduate Sizzy Lawton made Second Team All-SEC, and freshman Kate Runyon landed on the SEC All-Freshman Team. A 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team performer, Fusco has amassed six goals and four assists during her junior campaign to rank second on the team in total points with 16. Lawton has appeared in every match for Tennessee, starting nine and recording six goals and two assists to rank third on the team in points with 14. Runyon has had a standout rookie campaign for the Big Orange, scoring in her first contest as a Lady Vol and appearing in 14 matches while starting nine before missing time due to injury.Â
