Tennessee’s women closed the regular season with the kind of result they badly needed, knocking off Oklahoma 3-1 on Sunday at Regal Stadium in Knoxville.
The Lady Volunteers came into the matchup in search of a much-needed reset after a rough stretch that had seen them go winless since Sept. 11. That skid stood in sharp contrast to the way the season began, when Tennessee opened with six wins and three ties in its first nine matches before the results turned.
Against an Oklahoma team described as one of the more complete SEC squads on the soccer field, Tennessee finally found the response it had been chasing. The Lady Vols controlled the first half and took a 2-0 lead into the break, with Emerson Moore doing the heavy lifting early. Moore scored both of Tennessee’s first-half goals.
Oklahoma pushed back after halftime and got on the board to trim the margin, but Tennessee answered again. This time it was Cora Fry who delivered the next goal, coming with just about 22 minutes left to play.
From there, Tennessee had to manage the game defensively, and it did enough to hold on for the win. The final margin was 3-1, a result that showed the Lady Vols still had the ability to put together a strong performance when it mattered.
Even with the victory, Tennessee’s postseason outlook remains bleak. The Lady Vols have already been eliminated from the SEC tournament, and it is unlikely they will make the national tournament field. Still, some believe there is a chance.
In Other News...
Tennessee Still Has One Big QB Decision Hanging Over Kentucky
George MacIntyre has handled Tennessees offense for the last three games after Faizon Brandon went down with an injury, and the Volunteers have kept their quarterback situation in a holding pattern ever since. Josh Heupel still has not officially named a starter for the upcoming game against Kentucky, even though reports suggest MacIntyre is the likely choice to keep the job.
The decision matters because Tennessee has already seen both sides of the position this season. MacIntyre has been steady enough to keep the offense moving, while Brandons earlier work showed a sharper scoring touch before the injury stopped his run. With Kentucky next on the schedule, the Vols are still waiting on the final word at the most important spot on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Defense Faces A Dangerous Temptation Against Kentucky
The bye week gave Tennessees defense a chance to catch its breath, and Anthony Poindexter believes it also gave the unit a little more time to settle into its own skin. The Vols co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach pointed to rest, communication and a better grasp of the system as the kind of quiet gains that can matter when the games tighten up in the SEC.
Kentucky offers a different kind of test, though, with an offense that can change formations and tempos fast enough to bait a defense into overreaching. Poindexters message was clear: stay disciplined, dont chase forced turnovers, and trust the structure Tennessee has been building. Against a team that can create confusion simply by varying the picture, the temptation to do too much can be just as dangerous as any big play. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Gets Its First Real Test Of A Very Different Team
The first real look at Tennessees revamped basketball roster arrives Nov. 3, when the Volunteers open the season against Wofford at Food City Center in Knoxville. It will be the first chance to see how a group that added new pieces like Juke Harris and Terrence Hill Jr. fits together after last seasons Elite Eight run, with the opener set for the SEC Network and streaming on the ESPN App.
For Tennessee, the intrigue is less about the opponent than about the shape of this new team. The Volunteers have earned the right to start the year with expectations, but openers often reveal more than any practice report can, especially when there are fresh faces trying to settle in and carry over the standard set by a deep postseason run. [Read more 🡒]