⚽️LADY VOLS GAMEDAY⚽️ #1 TENNESSEE @ MS ST ESPNU 7PM

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Bulldogs Host No. 1 Tennessee In SEC Opener​

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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.
 
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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.
 
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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”
 
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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.
 
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utsports.com

Inside Tennessee Soccer’s Hot Start to the 2025 Season - University of Tennessee Athletics

As the final seconds dissolved off the clock, a Big Orange cheer tore through Regal Soccer Stadium. Then, the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the ma...
utsports.com utsports.com

Excerpts:

As the final seconds dissolved off the clock, a Big Orange cheer tore through Regal Soccer Stadium. Then, the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the match. Players poured onto the pitch and fans saluted with a standing ovation for their victorious, and at the time unranked Lady Vols, who had just taken down the No.1 North Carolina Tarheels at home in their season opener.

"It was honestly an incredible feeling," defender Leah Klurman said of the opening upset. "I'll probably remember it for the rest of my life."

During the nearly unblemished stretch lies many bright spots for the team. The Lady Vols have set or tied numerous program records, including:
-Tied a program record for most goals scored by the team in a match.
-Tied a program record for largest margin of victory, as well as largest margin of victory combined with a shutout
-Tied a new program for most goals scored by a single player in a match.
-Set a new program record for most goals scored by a single player in a half.
-Set a new program record for most players recording a point in a match.
-Tied a program record for longest consecutive match shutout streak.

Amongst these records sets one above all the others, a stat which the whole team contributes to, but has never been reached before in Lady Vols soccer history. The team has finally received its first ever No.1 overall ranking.

According to the United Soccer Coaches poll, which is the polling system officially recognized by the NCAA, the Lady Vols are the No.1 ranked team in the nation. Since first taking the field nearly 30 years ago in 1996, the Lady Vols have not once been ranked first overall– until now

The culture cultivated at Tennessee is more than just winning, but it is caring. These girls do not just see each other as teammates, but as family. From being willing to put their bodies on the line during the game, to even just spending their down time together, this Lady Vols squad truly cares for each other.

"Everyone on our team's close. Like, we'll just hang out with each other all the time. We all live pretty close, so we're around each other all the time and that just helps," Norris said. "So, when we're on the field, that relationship is stronger and we can just keep encouraging each other and have trust in each other."

Norris can recall some of her favorite moments that make this team so special, both big and small.

"Anytime we're not on the field, like, we're always doing something. Even when we're on the field, there's moments where we're just messing around, laughing with each other," Norris said. "The locker room's always crazy. The bus is always crazy. All of us have just a good time together."

From the crazy bus rides to the shenanigans on the pitch, one word stands out to describe the team– fun.

"You know, we're a fun team and we're really funny." O'Rourke said.

As laughs abound and memories are made, the results on the pitch will continue to become more serious as the Lady Vols shift to conference play for the remainder of the 2025 season. Although the girls know to take it one game and one day at a time, the squad knows what the true, ultimate goal is: winning it all.

"Let's keep on winning," O'Rourke said. "Let's win the Natty."
 
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