Tennessee is coming off a tough 3-0 loss on the road to #10 UNC on Thursday. The Lady Vols were led offensively by sophomore Taylor Huff who got off four shots, all of which were on frame. In goal, redshirt-freshman Ally Zazzara made six saves in her collegiate debut, starting in place of senior Lindsey Romig who was unavailable due to illness.
SMU won its home opener with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Rice on Thursday. Julissa Cisneros and Courtney Sebazco were the goal scorers for the Mustangs.
The only time UT met the Mustangs previously was in an Oct. 4 matchup in Nashville during Tennessee’s inaugural 1996 season. The Vols lost 1-0 in that contest.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will play its third straight game against a ranked opponent, welcoming #2 Duke on Thursday for a 7 p.m. ET matchup that will be broadcast on SEC Network.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: SMU, who tied for third in the AAC Preseason Coaches Poll, returns 20 players from last season. Of the returners, nine saw playing time and account for 21 of 28 goals scored during the 2021 campaign when the squad went 12-4-2 overall with a conference mark of 4-2-2.
TENNESSEE ON TOP: The Lady Vols were picked to finish first in the SEC as voted on by the conference’s 14 head coaches. UT is coming off a 2021 campaign in which it won a program-best 20 games, clinching an SEC Tournament Championship and going 20-3 en route to the NCAA Round of 16.
SIX LADY VOLS ON SEC WATCH LIST: Fifth-year seniors Abbey Burdette and Mackenzie George, senior Lindsey Romig, redshirt-junior Jaida Thomas, junior Lawson Renie and sophomore Taylor Huff were all named to the SEC Preseason Watch List. This is Romig’s third straight appearance on the watch list, while George and Thomas are making their second straight appearances.
GUESS WHO’S BACK, BACK AGAIN: UT returns 10 starters from the 2021 SEC Championship squad, including Second Team All-American and First Team All-Region forward Jaida Thomas, 2021 SEC Freshman of the Year Taylor Huff, and First Team All-SEC forward Mackenzie George.
YOUNG GUNS: The Lady Vols welcomed the No. 6 signing class in the nation as rated by Top Drawer Soccer. The group features nine versatile field players and one goalkeeper with five players rated inside the IMG Academy Top-150…
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