University of Tennessee Athletics
Five Lady Vols Named To SEC Preseason Watch List
August 15, 2023 | Soccer
Five Lady Vols were named to the 2023 SEC Preseason Watchlist, as announced by the conference Tuesday. Redshirt senior Jaida Thomas, senior Lawson Renie, juniors Sheridan Michel and Jordan Fusco, and sophomore Kameron Simmonds were all tabbed as players to watch this season.
Â
Thomas, a three-time All-SEC player and 2021 All-American, enters her fourth season on Rocky Top with 38 career goals, eyeing a program record as she closes in on Kylee Rossi's program-best 43. She finished the 2022 season with 13 goals and had the best goals-per-game average in the SEC at .68.
Â
Renie has led the team in minutes played for the last two seasons, anchoring a back line that posted 23 shutouts during that span, including program records of 13 shutouts and a shutout streak of 633:53 in 2021. She also got involved in the offense last season, scoring three goals, two of which were gamewinners.
Â
A transfer from Oklahoma, Michel appeared in 20 games and made 19 starts for the Sooners last year, earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors. She scored three goals on just seven shots to record the best shot percentage on the team at .429.
Â
A two-year starter for the Lady Vols, Fusco enters her junior campaign poised to be an offensive threat in the midfield. The 2021 All-SEC Freshman Team nominee has scored four goals in each of her two seasons on Rocky Top and has amassed a total of 22 career points.
Â
Following a successful freshman season in which she carded four goals, Simmonds made her debut for the Jamaican Women's National team, scoring her first goal for the senior squad against the Czech Republic at the 2023 Cup of Nations and making the roster for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup where she was part of the Reggae Girlz historic run as Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation to advance to the Round of 16.
Â
The Lady Vols will look to build off a 2022 campaign in which they captured a third straight SEC East Division Championship, tying South Carolina for the title with 15 points in divisional play while finishing second overall in the league with 22 points. They will open the 2023 season at home, hosting California in a 7 p.m. ET contest on Thursday.
Â
Thomas, a three-time All-SEC player and 2021 All-American, enters her fourth season on Rocky Top with 38 career goals, eyeing a program record as she closes in on Kylee Rossi's program-best 43. She finished the 2022 season with 13 goals and had the best goals-per-game average in the SEC at .68.
Â
Renie has led the team in minutes played for the last two seasons, anchoring a back line that posted 23 shutouts during that span, including program records of 13 shutouts and a shutout streak of 633:53 in 2021. She also got involved in the offense last season, scoring three goals, two of which were gamewinners.
Â
A transfer from Oklahoma, Michel appeared in 20 games and made 19 starts for the Sooners last year, earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors. She scored three goals on just seven shots to record the best shot percentage on the team at .429.
Â
A two-year starter for the Lady Vols, Fusco enters her junior campaign poised to be an offensive threat in the midfield. The 2021 All-SEC Freshman Team nominee has scored four goals in each of her two seasons on Rocky Top and has amassed a total of 22 career points.
Â
Following a successful freshman season in which she carded four goals, Simmonds made her debut for the Jamaican Women's National team, scoring her first goal for the senior squad against the Czech Republic at the 2023 Cup of Nations and making the roster for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup where she was part of the Reggae Girlz historic run as Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation to advance to the Round of 16.
Â
The Lady Vols will look to build off a 2022 campaign in which they captured a third straight SEC East Division Championship, tying South Carolina for the title with 15 points in divisional play while finishing second overall in the league with 22 points. They will open the 2023 season at home, hosting California in a 7 p.m. ET contest on Thursday.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
D/M
/ Soccer
F/M
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
F
/ SoccerEverything Orange S3 | Shae O'Rourke (Soccer)
Friday, September 12
SOC | ALLY ZAZZARA POSTGAME VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9.7.25)
Sunday, September 07
SOC | JOE KIRT POSTGAME VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9.7.25)
Sunday, September 07
SOC | JENNA STAYART POSTGAME VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9.7.25)
Sunday, September 07
