University of Tennessee
Arkansas
MATCH CENTRAL: Tennessee vs. #11 Arkansas
September 14, 2023 | Soccer
Tennessee will open SEC play at home, welcoming No. 11Â Arkansas to Regal Stadium for a 7 p.m. ET tilt on Friday.
The Lady Vols (5-1-1) enter the match on the heels of a 2-0 victory over FAU on Sunday. First-half goals by juniors Nolyn Bartholomew and Jordan Fusco fueled the Tennessee victory. Sophomores Ally Brown and Kameron Simmonds earned assists on the day. The UT defense was stout, holding FAU (3-3-2) without a shot until the 75th minute. The game went into a weather delay in the 76th minute that extended beyond the time limit for resuming play, so the 2-0 score stood as final.
The Razorbacks (3-2-1) are looking to bounce back after back-to-back losses. UA was in action most recently at #9 Clemson, falling 1-0 last Thursday. The Sunday prior to that, Arkansas suffered a 3-1 loss at #4 UNC.
Admission is free for all preseason and regular-season soccer matches. For fans planning to attend, note that Tennessee's clear bag policy will be in effect again this season.
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GAME PROMOTIONS:
- Hispanic Heritage Night
- Food Trucks: Enjoy Latin and Irvey's Ice Cream
- Thunderstick giveaway (first 750 fans)
- Hispanic Heritage shirts (first 250 fans)
THE LAST TIME WE MET: The Lady Vols and the Razorbacks last met in the 2021 SEC Championship game in Orange Beach, Ala., when UT took a 3-0 victory to claim its first SEC Championship since 2008.
VS THE RAZORBACKS: Tennessee owns a 14-6-1 advantage in the series against Arkansas and a 6-4-0 mark when playing in Regal Stadium.Â
SCOUTING UA: The Razorbacks were picked to finish first in the SEC as voted on by the league's coaches. They return eight starters and four All-SEC nominees from a 2022 squad that posted a 13-4-5 record en route to an NCAA Quarterfinals appearance. Graduates Bea Franklin and Anna Podojil, seniors Kiley Dulaney, Ellie Podojil and Ava Tankersley and sophomore Makenzie Malham were each named players to watch this season.Â
SIMMONDS BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore Kameron Simmonds, who leads the team in goals with six on the season, has tallied assists in the last two contests. With 14 points on this year, she leads the SEC in points per game (2.00), and her six goals ties for first in the conference with Jordyn Rhodes of Kentucky and Catherine Barry of South Carolina. Nationally, she tie for 19th in points per game and ranks 24th in goals per game.
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY: Simmonds would rank second in single-season program records for goals per game (.86) and third in points per game (2.00).
TRACKING THOMAS:Â Scoring her first goal of the season against the Hoosiers, Thomas moved her career goals scored to 39, pulling within four of tying Kylee Rossi at No. 1 in program history.
CREATING CHANCES: The Lady Vols outshot the Owls 12-1 and took seven corners to their one. Through the last five contests, UT has out-shot opponents 107-24 and taken 45 corner kicks while limiting the opposition to just seven.
EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: UT's 18 goals thus far have been scored by nine different players. Freshmen Sarah Greiner, Kate Runyon and Keaton Mitchell, sophomore Kameron Simmonds (6), juniors Jordan Fusco (2) and Nolyn Bartholomew, redshirt-seniors Maria Nelson (2) and Jaida Thomas, and graduate Sizzy Lawton (2) have all found the back of the net for the Big Orange. An own goal by ETSU rounds out the total.
FRESHMEN FINDING THEIR GROOVE: In the Lady Vols' first two contests, all four of UT's active freshmen recorded a goal or assist. Forwards Kate Runyon and Sarah Greiner each logged goals, and defender Linette Hofmann tallied an assist in the season opener against Cal, while midfielder Keaton Mitchell put her name on the scorecard with a goal at Lipscomb.
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 remain at home, hosting Florida in a 7 p.m. ET contest on Thursday.Â
