FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY: TENNESSEE IS THE NUMBER 1 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY ⚽️ LADY VOLS SOCCER THREAD

#11,378
#11,378

Bulldogs Host No. 1 Tennessee In SEC Opener​

IMG_5032.jpeg

STARKVILLE – For the third time in program history, Mississippi State will face the top-ranked team in the nation on Friday night as the Bulldogs host No. 1 Tennessee to open conference play.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

The matchup comes 21 years to the day from the first game against No. 1 in school history, which coincidentally was against North Carolina in a 2004 tournament hosted by the Lady Vols. The Bulldogs will look to take inspiration from last year's home victory over then-No. 1 Arkansas.

State has won three straight SEC openers and three straight SEC home openers, but the Bulldogs will face a tough test on Friday night. The Lady Vols are the only remaining team in the nation that has not conceded a goal this year. Tennessee has already played three ranked opponents, going 2-0-1 with a pair of top-five wins in those matches.

Friday night is Greek Night at the MSU Soccer Field and the start of alumni weekend. The first 300 students in fraternities or sororities will receive a giveaway rally towel The Bulldogs are also celebrating their 30th anniversary season and will recognize members of the inaugural 1995 team pregame. Remaining alumni in attendance will be honored at halftime.

Kicking Off
Taking On Number One: MSU has played No. 1 twice in its history. The Bulldogs will look for their second straight No. 1 win coming off the heels of last year's defeat of then-No. 1 Arkansas in Starkville.

It Could Be Anyone: Ten different Bulldogs have scored a goal. It's the second-highest number of goal scorers in the SEC and tied for ninth nationally. The program record is 14 set three times, most recently by the 2024 squad.

Our Ball: State has had the majority of possession in every win this year. MSU is averaging 60 percent of possession.

Long Time Coming: Last year's SEC Tournament victory against Tennessee was MSU's first win in the series in 18 years dating back to 2006. Three of the last seven meetings have ended in a draw.

Keep The Streak: The Bulldogs have not lost a regular-season match at home since Sept. 21, 2023, going 14-0-2 in that span.
About Tennessee (6-0-1, 0-0-0 SEC)
Rankings: United Soccer Coaches – 1 | TopDrawerSoccer – 3
Head Coach: Joe Kirt | Record at TENN: 35-20-11 (4th Year) | Career Record: 35-20-11 (4th Year)
Series History
Overall: 3-17-3 | Current Streak: Won 1 | Home: 1-8-3 | Away: 1-9-0 | Neutral: 1-0-0 | Last Meeting: Nov. 5, 2024, Won 2-1 (2OT)
Notables
Tennessee is one of 25 squads across the country that has yet to lose a match. The Lady Vols made early statements with a season-opening, 2-0 victory over then-No. 1 North Carolina and a 1-0 win at then-No. 4 UCLA. The only match that Tennessee has not won was a scoreless draw at then-No. 14 Memphis last week. The Lady Vols are the only team remaining in the nation that has not allowed a goal this season, and their 19 goals as a team rank No. 15 nationally. Shae O'Rourke leads the team with five goals and three game-winners, which is sixth in the country.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo, krichunaka and knoxvol52
#11,385
#11,385
IMG_9274.jpeg

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The No. 1 Tennessee soccer team is set to take on Mississippi State in its SEC opener Friday night.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU with Jon Yardley (PxP) and Marion Crowder (Analyst) on the call.

The matchup will mark the 24th all-time meeting between the two programs with Tennessee leading the series 17-3-3.

The top-ranked Lady Vols earned the program's first-ever No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll after an unbeaten conference slate of 6-0-1 that included seven straight shutouts. Additionally, UT is the only team remaining in the nation to not allow a goal all season. Tennessee's 19 goals scored currently ranks as No. 15 nationally.

NON-CON COMPLETE: Tennessee concluded its conference slate with an unbeaten overall record of 6-0-1. In that timespan, UT also shutout its opponents while scoring 19 goals. Additionally, the Lady Vols are currently the only team who has not allowed a goal at this point in the season. Through seven matches, Tennessee has had eight different goal-scorers.

STAYART STANDS OUT: Redshirt senior Jenna Stayart has three goals and two assists through seven games, including a game-winning header versus Georgia Southern last time out, controlling Tennessee's midfield as the Lady Vols enter conference play unbeaten.

MATCHUP HISTORY: Tennessee holds a 17-3-3 all-time record against Mississippi State. The last three trips to Starkville have ended in ties, with the Lady Vols' most recent road win coming in 2012, a 6-0 victory—the largest margin in the series. The last matchup was in the 2024 SEC Tournament quarterfinals with State, who at the time was ranked No. 1/2, coming out on top, 2-1, after a golden goal.

BROWN HOLDS THE LINE: Senior defender Ally Brown is building off a standout junior season in which she earned All-SEC Third Team honors after leading Tennessee with 1,800 minutes played and starting all 20 matches. Through the first seven games of 2025, she has already passed her assist totals from last season while playing a key role in a UT defense that has yet to concede a goal.

A NEW NUMBER ONE: Tennessee climbed to No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches poll Tuesday, marking the program's first-ever top ranking. The Lady Vols are unbeaten through seven games, including three matches against top-15 opponents, and remain the only team in the nation yet to allow a goal in 2025. Tennessee soccer joins baseball, men's basketball and softball as UT programs to achieve a No. 1 national ranking in the last nine months.

STRONG START TO THE SEASON: Tennessee's triumphs over North Carolina and UCLA (1-1) mark the first back-to-back shutout victories over top-five opponents in program history. Additionally, head coach Joe Kirtnow has three career top-five wins.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo and knoxvol52
#11,387
#11,387
MAD said:
The last matchup was in the 2024 SEC Tournament quarterfinals with State, who at the time was ranked No. 1/2, coming out on top, 2-1, after a golden goal.
Click to expand...
“In soccer, a golden goal is the first goal scored in extra time by a team, which instantly wins the match for them. This rule, temporarily used by FIFA from 1993 to 2004, was intended to add drama and excitement to knockout games and reduce the number of penalty shoot-outs. However, its implementation led to a more defensive style of play in extra time, ultimately causing its elimination in favor of standard extra time periods.”

“Although the official rule was abolished, the term "golden goal" is still used colloquially to describe any significant and decisive game-winning goaL”
 
  • Like
Reactions: MAD
#11,388
#11,388
chuckiepoo said:
“In soccer, a golden goal is the first goal scored in extra time by a team, which instantly wins the match for them. This rule, temporarily used by FIFA from 1993 to 2004, was intended to add drama and excitement to knockout games and reduce the number of penalty shoot-outs. However, its implementation led to a more defensive style of play in extra time, ultimately causing its elimination in favor of standard extra time periods.”

“Although the official rule was abolished, the term "golden goal" is still used colloquially to describe any significant and decisive game-winning goaL”
Click to expand...
It’s good to know, can’t assume everyone has heard the term.

Back when I was in elementary school, I was reading one of my scholastic books about memorable NFL games.
One of the stories mentioned “Sudden Death” and I was devastated that this happened in a game.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top