No. 25 Tennessee Falls at SMU, 2-1

Sunday, August 27

Dallas, TX

8 PM

University of Tennessee

3-1-0, 0-0-0

SMU

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Tennessee

SMU

August 27, 2023 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Kimberly Hood

DALLAS, Texas – No. 25 Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season on Sunday, falling 2-1 to SMU in Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium.

Graduate Sizzy Lawton found the net for UT (3-1-0), logging her first goal as a Lady Vol. Redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara earned the start in goal, making two saves and allowing one goal in the first half. Redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz took over in the second, making one save and allowing one goal.

Nyah Rose and Eliana Salama were the goal scorers for Southern Methodist (1-1-0). Samantha Estrada played the full game in net, making five saves and allowing one goal.

The Lady Vols came out hot on offense in the first, outshooting the Mustangs 10-3, with six being on frame, while taking nine corners to SMU's one.

Junior Jordan Fusco ripped a shot on goal 15 minutes into play, but Estrada collected the save.

With 21:44 on the clock, Rose got loose in the right side of the box and buried a shot low to the far post to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead early.

Freshman Kate Runyon got a point-blank look in the 32^nd minute that Estrada saved with her body, and redshirt-sophomore Jenna Stayart got the rebound a few seconds later and put a second shot on frame, but the SMU keeper was there for another save.

Lawton leveled the score in the 42nd minute, sending a shot near-post off the rebound from a corner kick to send the game into halftime with the score tied at 1-1.

Dallas native Jaida Thomas sent a beautifully placed ball past Estrada six minutes into the second half, but the goal was waved offsides.

In the 65^th minute, junior Jordan Fusco broke into the box and got off a contested shot from 12 yards out, but it sailed high.

Jen Jackson ran onto a ball inside the 18-yard box for SMU, hammering a shot low in the 83^rd minute, but Reisz made the save to keep the score level.

A minute later, Salama placed a ball far-post through the UT defense, giving the Mustangs a 2-1 advantage.

Simmonds got a head on a corner in the closing seconds, sending it toward the upper 90, but missing just wide, and SMU ran out the clock for the win.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will return home to host Indiana at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday.

EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: Through four games, UT's 11 goals have been scored by seven different players. Freshmen Sarah Greiner, Kate Runyon and Keaton Mitchell, sophomore Kameron Simmonds (4), junior Jordan Fusco, redshirt-senior Maria Nelson and graduate Sizzy Lawton have all found the back of the net for the Big Orange.