MATCH CENTRAL: Tennessee at #7 South Carolina

The Lady Vols will play their first SEC road game on Sunday, traveling to No. 7 South Carolina for a 7 p.m. ET matchup that will be broadcast on ESPNU.

Tennessee (6-2-1, 1-1 SEC) is coming off a 2-0 victory over Florida at home on Thursday. UT out-shot the Gators 13-8 on the night, marking the most shots UF has allowed this season as they entered the match limiting opponents to an average of 4.3 shots per game through the eight matches prior. Sizzy Lawton netted the game-winner in the 24th minute off an assist by Jordan Fusco, and Kate Runyon added a second in the 62nd minute. In goal, Abby Reisz made the start, recording one save. Ally Zazzara took over in the second half, making three saves on the evening.

In its last outing, South Carolina (7-1-2, 1-0-1 SEC) played Kentucky to a scoreless draw in Lexington.

THE LAST TIME WE MET: The 18th-ranked Lady Vols fell to No. 21 South Carolina in Regal Stadium on Oct. 23, 2022, 6-1.

VS THE GAMECOCKS: Tennessee's all-time record against USC is 14-11-3. When playing in Columbia, UT owns a 5-4-3 advantage. On the Lady Vols' last trip to South Carolina in 2021, No. 12 Tennessee claimed a 1-0 victory over No. 19 USC to snap a home unbeaten streak in conference play dating back to 2018.

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecocks were picked to finish third in the SEC as voted on by the league's coaches. They return seven starters from the 2022 squad that won an SEC Tournament Championship and went 15-4-5 overall en route to a postseason run to the NCAA Round of 16. Fifth years Camryn Dixon and Heather Hinz, seniors Cat Barry and Brianna Behm, and sophomores Gracie Falla and Shae O'Rourke were named players to watch this season.

IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY: Simmonds, who has tallied a team-leading six goals and two assists thus far in her sophomore campaign, would rank third in single-season program records for points per game (1.75) and fourth in goals per game (.75).

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: The Lady Vols out-shot the Gators 13-8 and took eight corners to their one. On the season, UT has out-shot opponents 168-53 and taken 83 corner kicks while limiting the opposition to just 19. Tennessee currently ranks first nationally in corner kicks per game (9.11) and 21st in shots per game (18.33).

EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: UT's 21 goals thus far have been scored by 10 different players. Freshmen Sarah Greiner, Kate Runyon (2) and Keaton Mitchell, sophomore Kameron Simmonds (6), juniors Jordan Fusco (2) and Nolyn Bartholomew, redshirt-seniors Maria Nelson (2) and Jaida Thomas, senior Lawson Renie and graduate Sizzy Lawton (3) have all found the back of the net for the Big Orange. An own goal by ETSU 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 four starts, logging two goals and an assist. Fellow rookies Keaton Mitchell and Sarah Greiner have both tallied goals, and Linette Hofmann has started seven 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. 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.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: 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 play a second straight game on the road, traveling to Mississippi State for an 8:30 p.m. ET contest on Friday.