Official 2015 Soccer Thread

#1

MAD

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#1
Vol Soccer hosts its first two home games of the season THIS WEEKEND. Come out and support the Vols!

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There will be an expanded menu at Regal Soccer Stadium with the addition of a concession trailer that will serve hamburgers, chicken tenders and French fries. Sales at the concession trailer will be cash only.

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FRIDAY HOME OPENER
TENNESSEE VS. LIPSCOMB
Date: Friday 8/21/15
Location: Regal Soccer Stadium Knoxville, Tenn.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live Stream:
The SEC Network + (also known as WatchESPN)


Starting with Sunday's game against Georgia Southern, each Sunday contest will feature free Soccer Sundaes. The first 100 kids 12 and under can create their own ice cream sundaes.

SUNDAY
TENNESSEE VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Date: Sunday 8/23/15
Location: Regal Soccer Stadium Knoxville, Tenn.
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Live Stream:
The SEC Network + (also known as WatchESPN)
 
#2
#2
Looking forward to seeing this team play. Hope we can put the ball in the net without Wilkinson, who really had her collegiate career ruined by knee problems--a shame for her and a same for us. The silver lining might be that, without her, the Vols will have to become a more well-rounded, combination-oriented team instead of one that just whelps the ball down the field and hopes Wilkinson can do something with it, as we tended to do when she played.
 
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#3
#3
Frustrating start to the soccer season.

First, the SEC+ video livestream didn't come on until near the end of the first half. This seems to be a recurring problem. The game is on the SEC/ESPN network, or SEC+, but the technical crew can't get its act together. It happened at least twice last year--including one game that was not broadcast at all.

Second, a word about the uniforms: The orange and white checkerboard look is....uggh. Last year the soccer team's home uni was ugly--white with four horizontal orange stripes. Not very attractive. The checkerboard is as bad or worse. There is a reason we've almost never seen checkerboard uniforms--in ANY sport, male or female. It's a bad look, but because somebody at Nike told UT to emphasize the checkerboard for branding purposes, we now have checkerboard unis. Somebody ought to reconsider.

Tonight's game against Lipscomb was both encouraging and discouraging. Encouraging because we've got a lot of athletic young players, but discouraging because the team couldn't manage to score one freakin' goal against a clearly inferior opponent. This was precisely the problem last year--the team struggled to score--and this game looked just like many of last year's games: The Vols controlled the ball, dominated the game, but were not creative enough in the attacking third, missed too many passes--and could not convert all the possession they had into quality chances. This is a problem. The stats show 25 shots for UT--but only 6 were on frame, and only one or two of those even remotely troubled the Lipscomb goalie. That was the story last year. And like last year, we could actually have lost the game. Lipscomb had very few opportunities in general--but they had as many quality chances as the Vols had, including a couple of headers that were half-chances. Pensky needs to teach this team how to score. When you are the superior team but unable to score, you press forward a lot--which leaves you vulnerable to counterattacks.

In keeping with UT's luck, the Vols lost two players to injury before the game was even 20 minutes old. We'd already lost our best player, Wilkinson, to (yet another) knee injury in the only preseason game. In this game, starting midifielder Christy went out with a knee issue only 6 minutes into the game. Pensky, it seems, has got the luck of H. Warlick. Let's hope her injury isn't serious. Then, not long after, one of our most touted freshman, Neal, went out with a leg injury of some kind---the broadcasters couldn't find out what it was, apparently.

Some of the freshman/redshirt frosh looked good--particularly A. Bialzak, Rylie O'Keefe, M. Massey, Katie Cousins and M. Flynn--who is an athletic defender and cool with the ball. Freshmen Gouner and Wagner didn't play a lot but are clearly athletic as well and should see more PT as the season progresses. Cousins, who was one of the top recruits in the country, played most of the second half and overtime. She is short and stocky--very good on the ball, should become an excellent distributor, but lacks a bit of pace. D. Marcano, also a very highly ranked recruit and also a midfielder, and also good on the ball, played 14 minutes in the first half but not at all in the second--not sure why as she looks a good player, too. I'd like to think she will play more on Sunday in the second game.

Among the vets, Baldwin worked doggedly and provided good leadership. She is coming back from injuries and will get better. Santorio was solid in the back but didn't look very comfortable with the ball. Ferguson, a senior, was very active.

Assuming the injuries aren't too serious, this team should have a lot of depth and get better as the season unfolds. Pensky needs to build chemistry and hope his players can start finding the back of the net.
 
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#4
#4
Frustrating start to the soccer season.

First, the SEC+ video livestream didn't come on until near the end of the first half. This seems to be a recurring problem. The game is on the SEC/ESPN network, or SEC+, but the technical crew can't get its act together. It happened at least twice last year--including one game that was not broadcast at all.

Not sure what was going on with your computer, but I watched it from the start on the WatchESPN app on my iPad.
 
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#5
#5
Frustrating start to the soccer season.

First, the SEC+ video livestream didn't come on until near the end of the first half. This seems to be a recurring problem. The game is on the SEC/ESPN network, or SEC+, but the technical crew can't get its act together. It happened at least twice last year--including one game that was not broadcast at all.

Second, a word about the uniforms: The orange and white checkerboard look is....uggh. Last year the soccer team's home uni was ugly--white with four horizontal orange stripes. Not very attractive. The checkerboard is as bad or worse. There is a reason we've almost never seen checkerboard uniforms--in ANY sport, male or female. It's a bad look, but because somebody at Nike told UT to emphasize the checkerboard for branding purposes, we now have checkerboard unis. Somebody ought to reconsider.

Tonight's game against Lipscomb was both encouraging and discouraging. Encouraging because we've got a lot of athletic young players, but discouraging because the team couldn't manage to score one freakin' goal against a clearly inferior opponent. This was precisely the problem last year--the team struggled to score--and this game looked just like many of last year's games: The Vols controlled the ball, dominated the game, but were not creative enough in the attacking third, missed too many passes--and could not convert all the possession they had into quality chances. This is a problem. The stats show 25 shots for UT--but only 6 were on frame, and only one or two of those even remotely troubled the Lipscomb goalie. That was the story last year. And like last year, we could actually have lost the game. Lipscomb had very few opportunities in general--but they had as many quality chances as the Vols had, including a couple of headers that were half-chances. Pensky needs to teach this team how to score. When you are the superior team but unable to score, you press forward a lot--which leaves you vulnerable to counterattacks.

In keeping with UT's luck, the Vols lost two players to injury before the game was even 20 minutes old. We'd already lost our best player, Wilkinson, to (yet another) knee injury in the only preseason game. In this game, starting midifielder Christy went out with a knee issue only 6 minutes into the game. Pensky, it seems, has got the luck of H. Warlick. Let's hope her injury isn't serious. Then, not long after, one of our most touted freshman, Neal, went out with a leg injury of some kind---the broadcasters couldn't find out what it was, apparently.

Some of the freshman/redshirt frosh looked good--particularly A. Bialzak, Rylie O'Keefe, M. Massey, Katie Cousins and M. Flynn--who is an athletic defender and cool with the ball. Freshmen Gouner and Wagner didn't play a lot but are clearly athletic as well and should see more PT as the season progresses. Cousins, who was one of the top recruits in the country, played most of the second half and overtime. She is short and stocky--very good on the ball, should become an excellent distributor, but lacks a bit of pace. D. Marcano, also a very highly ranked recruit and also a midfielder, and also good on the ball, played 14 minutes in the first half but not at all in the second--not sure why as she looks a good player, too. I'd like to think she will play more on Sunday in the second game.

Among the vets, Baldwin worked doggedly and provided good leadership. She is coming back from injuries and will get better. Santorio was solid in the back but didn't look very comfortable with the ball. Ferguson, a senior, was very active.

Assuming the injuries aren't too serious, this team should have a lot of depth and get better as the season unfolds. Pensky needs to build chemistry and hope his players can start finding the back of the net.

I agree with you, this is a very young team and they will get better.
 
#6
#6
Tennessee hosts Georgia Southern on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Regal Soccer Stadium.
Admission to all Tennessee soccer regular-season home games is free.
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#8
#8
Can Hannah Wilkerson get a medical redshirt this season?

She got a medical redshirt for THIS season, as I recall, based on being injured last year. I wouldn't swear to it, but I think she is out of eligibility. It's a shame: she's a good, physical player--just what we need--when healthy, but she's never been healthy: knee issues for three straight years. Her first year she hobbled around the last part of the season wearing a knee brace; she missed most of last year with a knee problem--which killed the Vols as team struggled to score and missed the NCAA; and then this year tears her ACL. What's doubly frustrating is that she played in the women's World Cup earlier this summer and seemed fit and fine--I thought, whew, maybe her knee issues are behind her. The bright side is that this will give a good young player a chance to develop more quickly.
 
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#10
#10
She got a medical redshirt for THIS season, as I recall, based on being injured last year. I wouldn't swear to it, but I think she is out of eligibility. It's a shame: she's a good, physical player--just what we need--when healthy, but she's never been healthy: knee issues for three straight years. Her first year she hobbled around the last part of the season wearing a knee brace; she missed most of last year with a knee problem--which killed the Vols as team struggled to score and missed the NCAA; and then this year tears her ACL. What's doubly frustrating is that she played in the women's World Cup earlier this summer and seemed fit and fine--I thought, whew, maybe her knee issues are behind her. The bright side is that this will give a good young player a chance to develop more quickly.

No, she only missed part of last season.

She actually had her freshman year of eligibility restored by the NCAA at the end of last season. When she initially came to Tennessee from New Zealand, she was ruled to be a sophomore because of the differences in the academic and athletic systems in that country. UT could not appeal that until her eligibility was about to expire and they approved it shortly before the end of last year.

If she chooses, she can apply for redshirt year, but she may elect to finish the semester and return home to New Zealand to prepare for the Olympics with her national team.
 
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#11
#11
Also saw where Kentucky lost to SDSU the other day. SEC taking it on the chin in soccer.
 
#12
#12
This looks like a fun group, they attend the home soccer games, if I was a student at UT I would definitely join.

Rowdies look to grow in year two - The Daily Beacon: Sports

They call themselves the Ronda Rousey of soccer fan bases because they’re going to “make the opponent cry in 34 seconds.”
Known more commonly as the Regal Rowdies, the 89-member soccer support group is entering its second year of operation, and it’s already one of the university’s fastest growing student-run organizations.
The group's founders, Matthew Proffitt and Ethan Perry, took a liking to soccer almost by accident. The two, tired from playing basketball all day, laid on their couch and decided to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It was that moment when they became attracted to soccer, and in 2014 they decided to create the group known as the Regal Rowdies.
Proffitt shared a math class with junior forward Amy Neal between 2013 and 2014 when Neal admitted that her team was looking for fans to start a support group. Perry and Proffitt agreed it was something they wanted to do, and they began creating the group.
A few games went by, and support for this once small group was growing. More and more students were in the Rowdies’ section during games. So, the two decided to get the organization authorized by the university, and soon enough, the group was official.
“We’re official through the university, and we are fully supported by the soccer team,” Proffitt said. “Our main goal is to create an intense atmosphere and try to make it as intense and loud as a football game would be.
“Our second goal is to try to get on the nerves of the other team, whether that’s chanting, singing or yelling out their names. If we get them to mess up a little or to turn their heads, we know we’ve done our job.”
The group has added many fans throughout its first year — including head soccer coach Brian Pensky. The four-year coach loves the Rowdies’ spirit and attitude at every game.
“Their support is outstanding,” Pensky said. “We’ve put a fence behind the north goal with the hopes that we can have fans behind both goals, and many of those we hope will be Regal Rowdies … To have someone to support our girls out here, and to see it be these girls’ peers, it means everything to these athletes. With this being year two, we hope that the Regal Rowdies support and numbers will only grow.”
The Rowdies are always a group that bring noise to Regal Stadium during every game. The main culprit of this noise is the orange and white painted drum known as Big Bertha. Its artist, Payton Miller, is also responsible for many famous paintings on Tennessee's historic “Rock” in the year, including Dobbs, Lil Jon and Butch Jones. Drummer Krishen Gosine is the one who bangs on Big Bertha during every game, shaking the stands and rattling opponents’ nerves.
“We hope that one day we can be as big as the Cameron Crazies at Duke, or be as big as our big brother the Rocky Top Rowdies,” Proffitt said. “We have a lot of exciting stuff planned for this year, and we hope to have big turn-outs.”
Proffitt wouldn’t reveal all of his groups’ secrets, though. The junior admits that he has a lot of plans in mind, but he wants fans to come out to games to see just what those plans entail.
“Last year, we didn’t really know what to fully expect. But I think that this year, we have a few more things we’d like to do,” Proffitt said. “Last year, we had the drum, and we took it behind the goal and got in the goalie’s head, and we had some confetti poppers, and piñatas based off of some of the other team’s players that we smashed at halftime while they were on the field stretching … We have a few other things I won’t say, though. I want people to come and find out.”
Proffitt also pushed for students to join the Regal Rowdies this year. To join, a student can go to https://utk.collegiatelink.net/. Then, they can navigate to the Regal Rowdies page and hit “Join Organization.”
However, to join, one must understand the three rules of being a Rowdy: bring your friends to the game, wear school colors while bringing any noise makers you have and finally, have fun.
“I wasn’t a soccer fan before doing this,” Proffitt said. “But just going with your friends to the game, having fun, doing cheers, and just being with your friends is one of the best ways you can spend a Friday night. Even if you’re not a soccer fan, you might just wanna try it out. You could not be a soccer fan on Friday morning, and end up being a huge soccer fan by Friday night. It’s something that is fulfilling, and I invite everyone to join up.”
 
#13
#13
Also saw where Kentucky lost to SDSU the other day. SEC taking it on the chin in soccer.

had three good teams--texas a&M, florida and south carolina (bit of a surprise there). Texas A&M made it to the final four but lost to eventual champ fla. state. Florida and South Carolina lost in the regional finals, after beating vaunted north carolina in the regional semis.

I think texas a&m lost three or more good senior players, so they may not be as good--they thrashed the Vols last year. I'm sure florida will be strong. This UT team should be good when the freshman gain experience. Losing Wilkinson hurt, but better to lose her early than halfway through the season, which has been the pattern with her knees. We have a lot of pretty talented young players; let's hope Pensky can fit the pieces together and build a title contender. This is most talent we've had in a while, thanks to the excellent first-year class.
 
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#14
#14
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Friday's game is the first-ever meeting between the teams and it will feature a live online broadcast and live stats via Liberty.edu/Flames. Admission to Liberty women's soccer home games is free of charge.

Tennessee opened the 2015 season last week at Regal Soccer Stadium with a scoreless tie against Lipscomb on Aug. 21 and a 2-0 victory over Georgia Southern on Aug. 23. Goalkeeper Julie Eckel posted shutouts in both matches, marking the first time since 1997 that Tennessee has shut out its first two opponents of the year. Anna McClung scored UT's first goal against Georgia Southern in the 11th minute and assisted on Amy Neal's 89th minute score.

UT's win over Georgia Southern was head coach Brian Pensky's 100th career victory as a collegiate head coach. He won 67 games at Maryland from 2005-2011 and he has led UT to 33 wins since he arrived at Rocky Top in 2012.

Liberty opened its season last week in Fullerton, Calif. The Lady Flames fell to Cal State Fullerton, 1-0, on Aug. 21 and lost to UC Riverside, 3-1, on Aug. 23. Brittany Aanderud scored the team's lone goal against UC Riverside in the 90th minute. Goalkeeper Holly Van Noord made 19 saves and allowed four goals over 180 minutes.

The Vols will play their first ranked opponent of the year on Sunday when they take on No. 7 Virginia Tech on Aug. 30 in Blacksburg, Va.
 
#16
#16
UT PLAYS TO SCORELESS DRAW AT LIBERTY
Julie Eckel makes 8 saves in the tie; Vols do not capitalize on late chances

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Liberty was quick out of the gate with a shot seconds into the match and Tennessee had several chances late in regulation and both overtime periods as the Vols and Lady Flames played to a scoreless draw on Friday at Osborne Stadium.

The Vols (1-0-2) finished with an 18-17 shot advantage after Liberty (0-2-1) outshot them, 9-6, in the first half.

Tennessee redshirt senior goalkeeper Julie Eckel (1-0-2) and Liberty's Holly Van Noord (0-2-1) made eight saves each. Eckel yet to allow a goal this season (310 minutes).

Anna Bialczak led UT with six shots and four shots on goal. Amy Neal had five shots and two on goal.

Tennessee had two great looks in the second overtime period. In the 102nd minute, Neal weaved through defenders to fire from outside the 18, only to be turned away by Van Noord with a dive near the right post. Bialczak broke loose down the left side in the 108th and fired a rocket shot near the box, but Van Noord was there to make the stop.

In the 92nd minute, Bialczak beat a LU defender for a ball in the left side of the box, firing a shot on goal to the middle.

Regulation ended in thrilling fashion. In 89th minute, Neal broke loose to reach a ball played back to the Liberty box with Van Noord deflecting the ball as soon as it left Neal's foot. Van Noord made a diving save on a header by Neal seconds later after a UT corner kick.

In the 87th minute, Madison Kauzlarich fired from about 25 yards out and Eckel made a leaping grab near the left top shelf.

Tennessee was aggressive coming out of halftime. In the 59th minute, Danielle Marcano, who had three shots in the game, ripped a shot from the 18 to the left upper 90 and Van Noord made a leaping save to prevent the goal.

While the Lady Flames outshot the Vols in the first half, UT had three corner kicks to Liberty's two before the break.

Eckel made four saves in the first half, including a stop 42 seconds into the game. Liberty wasted no time with a quick run from kickoff in the first minute and Eckel stopping a shot from Baylee Gillmore near the right post. UT's redshirt senior keeper made a great fingertip save in the 21st minute to turn away a shot by Crystal Elmers near the right post.

Tennessee next heads to Blacksburg, Va., to play Virginia Tech on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. That game will feature an ESPN3 online broadcast.
 
#20
#20
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Tennessee plays its first ranked opponent of the season
when the Vols head to Blacksburg to face
#7 Virginia Tech on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET
on ESPN3
(online broadcast).
 
#22
#22
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Vols Tie #7 Hokies, 1-1, In 2OT Mackenzie Gouner scores first collegiate goal in 69th minute
Aug. 30, 2015
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Mackenzie Gouner scored in the 69th minute, Virginia Tech scored an 86th-minute equalizer and Tennessee earned a 1-1 draw against the No. 7 Hokies on Sunday at Thompson Field.

The Hokies (3-0-1) outshot the Vols (1-0-3), 23-11, and had nine corner kicks to UT's three.

Julie Eckel (1-0-3) turned in a gutsy performance in goal. She was credited with five saves and withstood Virginia Tech surges late in both overtime periods.

UT came close to a winner in the first overtime period when Amy Neal's 93rd-minute header in the box hit the crossbar.

In the 86th minute, Kristina Diana sent a shot to the right upper 90 to even the game at 1-1 and force overtime.

Gouner scored off of a beautiful pass from Anna McClung in the 69th minute to give the Vols a 1-0 lead. McClung took the ball up the left side and sent a pass through the box to find Gouner near the right post for a score at the center of the net. The goal was the first of Gouner's collegiate career.

The Vols came up about a foot short of scoring in the 51st minute. Anna Bialczak broke loose on a counter attack up the left side and found Neal in the middle of the box for a shot that bounced off the right post.

The Hokies had a 9-5 shot advantage in the first half and each team had two corner kicks.

In the 44th minute, Christine Creighton sent a cross in from the right corner and Nicole Seaman connected near the six-yard box, but Virginia Tech goalkeeper Kaylyn Smith (3-0-1) was there for the save.

Tennessee had two good attacks in the first 13 minutes. Eleven minutes in, Susan Ferguson sent a ball into the box and over the center back's and goalkeeper's heads, but the Vols' forwards could not locate the loose ball in time. Katie Cousins fired a shot in the 13th minute from 20 yards out that went wide right.

For the second-straight match Eckel was tested early. Just over a minute in, Virginia Tech's Murielle Tiernan ripped a shot from 25 yards out to the center of the goal and Eckel was able to punch it over the crossbar.

UT returns to Regal Stadium this week to host Navy on Sept. 4 and Murray State on Sept. 6.
 
#23
#23
1-1 draw against a top 10 team away from home. Good result, played very well
 
#24
#24
...the next two games. If we are on the NCAA tourney bubble at the end of the season, as we were last year, the committee will not look favorably on the fact that the Vols couldn't beat Lipscomb and Liberty. The SEC schedule will be tough, so we need to win the next two non-conference games, which means combining our good defense with some goal-scoring. :clapping:
 
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#25
#25
Tennessee vs. Navy Vols open two-match weekend with Friday home contest vs. Navy at 7 p.m.

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Tennessee opens a two-match home weekend on Friday with a 7 p.m. contest against Navy at Regal Soccer Stadium.

Admission to all Tennessee soccer regular-season home games is free of charge.

Friday is camper night with several of the team's summer camp attendees reuniting with the players and coaches.

Friday's match also marks the first time that the Vol Shop will sell checkerboard t-shirts in the same pattern as Tennessee's home jerseys. Fans can purchase the t-shirts at the Vol Shop tent for $19.99 each.
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UT hosts Murray State on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET with a live online video broadcast on SEC Network + (WatchESPN).

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY*** Sunday is also Boomsday with festivities on Neyland Drive. Neyland Drive will have westbound and eastbound closures between Lake Loudoun Blvd. and Walnut Street. Fans should plan on arriving early from the Kingston Pike/Alcoa Highway side of Neyland Drive and notify parking attendants that they are there for the soccer match. Complimentary parking ends at 7:30 p.m. Regal Stadium will remain open after the match for fans planning to watch the fireworks.
 

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