MATCH CENTRAL: Tennessee at Lipscomb
The Lady Vols will look to extend their win streak to two when they travel to the state capital on Sunday, facing off with Lipscomb in a 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT contest.
Tennessee is coming off a decisive 4-1 victory over Cal at home in its season opener on Thursday. Four different Lady Vols put a ball in the net for Tennessee, with three tallying their first career goals. Freshmen
Kate Runyon and
Sarah Greiner and redshirt-senior
Maria Nelson all carded their first collegiate goals, while
Kameron Simmonds rounded out the scoring.
In goal, redshirt-sophomore
Ally Zazzara made the start, and redshirt-freshman
Abby Reisz took over in the second half. Zazzara was not called on to make a save, and Reisz ended the night with one.
The Bisons enter the contest on the heels of a tough loss to Troy on Thursday, falling 1-0 on an own goal despite outshooting the Trojans 12-11 on the night.
VS THE ASUN: This is just the second meeting between in-state foes UT and Lipscomb, and the current series record stands at 1-0-1. In their last matchup, the Lady Vols took a 3-0 win over Lipscomb in the 2021 NCAA First Round. Tennessee holds a 6-0-2 all-time record against Atlantic Sun schools.
SCOUTING THE BISONS: Lipscomb, a three-time ASUN Conference Champion program, was again selected as the favorite in this year's ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll. The 2022 squad was dominant with an 11-5-3 overall record while outshooting their opponents 353-186. Three LU players earned preseason accolades with Kelli Beiler being voted as the unanimous ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, Logan McFadden garnering ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Shelby Craft claiming the ASUN Preseason Midfielder of the Year title.
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.
TRACKING THOMAS: Jaida Thomas finished the 2022 season with 13 goals to rank second in the SEC. She enters the 2023 season with a career total of 38 goals, sitting within five of tying Kylee Rossi at No. 1 all time in career goals scored at UT.
EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: Including two goals from the exhibition contest against #7 Alabama, UTís six goals thus far have been scored by six different players. Freshmen
Sarah Greiner and
Kate Runyon, sophomores
Kameron Simmonds and
Jenna Stayart, redshirt-senior
Maria Nelson and graduate
Samantha Agresti have all found the back of the net for the Big Orange.
UP NEXT: UT will continue play within the Volunteer State, returning home for a 7 p.m. ET matchup against ETSU on Thursday.