KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Georgia Southern women's soccer battled No. 2-ranked Tennessee on Sunday, falling 1-0 to the Volunteers in Knoxville.
It was the highest ranked opponent Georgia Southern women's soccer has faced in program history, and it also was the closest result the Eagles have had against a nationally-ranked opponent as well.Â
The Vols improve to 6-0-1 on the season, while the Eagles fall to 2-5. Georgia Southern finishes its six-match road swing on Wednesday, traveling to Kennesaw State for a 7 p.m. contest against the Owls.
Tennessee entered the day as one of only two teams in NCAA Division I yet to concede a goal this year. But Bri Conley tested the Vols in the 10th minute with a shot on a counter attack that was saved by Tennessee goalkeeper Ally Zazzara.
Caitlin Conroy had a golden chance in the 38th minute to give the Eagles the lead as she got on the end of a service into the box by Erin Wilkins, but her toe poke over the keeper Zazzara went just wide to the right. The two teams would end halftime in a scoreless 0-0 draw with Tennessee holding a 5-2 edge in shots.
In the second half, the Vols would eventually break through at the 50 minute mark on a goal by Jenna Stayart for the 1-0 lead.Â
The Eagles had a couple of attempts at an equalizer in the final three minutes after a corner kick and a pair of blocked shots, but the Vols were able to close out their seventh clean sheet of the season.
No. 2 Tennessee ended the day with a 14-4 edge in shots. Katie Oakley made five saves in net for the Eagles, while Azzarra made two saves for the Vols. Tennessee had an 8-1 edge in corner kicks on the day. Georgia Southern was whistled for eight fouls, while the Vols were whistled for seven fouls and one offsides.
"Today was the most cohesive effort from our team in my time at Georgia Southern," Georgia Southern head women's soccer coach Chris Adams said. "We executed the game plan extremely well and created a couple of chances against the #2 team in the country. The communication was elite from our group and the growth they have showed recently will serve us well going into conference play."
