Tennessee remains perfect, shuts out Lipscomb

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Lady Vols remain perfect on the season, claiming their first shutout of the season with a 3-0 victory at Lipscomb on Sunday. Junior Jordan Fusco, freshman Keaton Mitchell and sophomore Kameron Simmonds all found the back of the net for UT. Redshirt-senior Maria Nelson and sophomore Ally Brown recorded assists.

All three keepers saw action in goal, with redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara making the start, redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz entering the game at halftime, and senior MacKenzie Haba closing out the final five minutes. Zazzara logged one save on the day.

For the Bisons, Sara Kile played the full game in net, allowing three goals and tallying eight saves.

“I’m very pleased with our performance today. It was a great team win,” said Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt.

“We needed everyone today on a hot, Sunday afternoon. It’s difficult to win on the road, and today was no different. Lipscomb was organized and competed well. It took us a little bit to settle in, and we left a few chances out there, but we kept at it and eventually found the back of the net. Credit to our team for their mentality today, we competed at a high level and were dominant in our possession. We have a deep and talented team, with six different players scoring goals this week. We’ve had two good performances, which we will learn from and be better on Thursday night against ETSU back at Regal Stadium.”

Freshman Kate Runyon got UT’s first quality look of the game in the 15th minute, ripping a low shot from the top of the box but missing just wide.

Four minutes later, Simmonds put one on frame, but Kile came up with the diving save to keep the score level.

In the final minute of the half, junior Sheridan Michel forced Kile into knocking a well-placed shot over the crossbar, earning the Big Orange a corner kick, but the Lady Vols couldn’t convert on the set piece, and the game remained scoreless through the break.

The Lady Vols got on the board in the 53rd minute when Nelson slid a ball across the box for Fusco to run onto. The junior one-touched the ball into the side of the net to give Tennessee the lead.

Freshman Sarah Greiner nearly made it a two-point advantage in the 71st minute, but Kile made a diving save to stop the blast that was headed toward the left corner of the net.

Keaton Mitchell logged the first goal of her collegiate career in the 80th minute, connecting on a corner from sophomore Ally Brown.

Kameron Simmonds rounded out the scoring a minute later, breaking into the LU box and burying a well-struck shot in the back of the net to give UT the 3-0 victory on the road.

EVERYONE IS DANGEROUS: Including two goals from the exhibition contest against #7 Alabama, UT’s nine goals thus far have been scored by eight different players. Freshmen Sarah Greiner, Kate Runyon and Keaton Mitchell, sophomores Kameron Simmonds (2) and Jenna Stayart, junior Jordan Fusco, redshirt-senior Maria Nelson and graduate Samantha Agresti have all found the back of the net for the Big Orange.

FRESHMEN FINDING THEIR GROOVE: In the Lady Vols first two contests, all four of UT’s active freshmen have recorded a goal or assist. Forwards Kate Runyon and Sarah Greiner each logged goals, and defender Linette Hoffman tallied an assist in the season opener against Cal, while midfielder Keaton Mitchell put her name on the scorecard with a goal at Lipscomb

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will return home to face another in-state rival in ETSU on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.