By Aidan Corley
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A fired-up Tennessee Soccer team took down the defending national champions and No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels on Thursday night in its season opener with a rowdy crowd behind them at Regal Stadium. The win is Tennessee’s first against a No. 1-ranked opponent, and its first win against North Carolina in program history.
Head coach Joe Kirt emphasized the togetherness of the Lady Vols after the victory. Throughout the game, there was a sense of cohesion and unity that instilled belief in the Lady Vols with the task of North Carolina staring them down.
“The team has been connected all year,” Kirt said after the game. “They covered for one another, they stood up and made plays, they’re connected, they believe in one another, they trust one another, and it showed tonight.”
How It Happened
Tennessee (1-0-0) had a nervy opening few minutes with North Carolina (0-1-0) earning a pair of early corner kicks following some dangerous touches in Tennessee’s box. The Lady Vols grew into the game after weathering an early storm, and the first half proved to be a tightly contested affair.
Tennessee sensed vulnerability on the left side of North Carolina’s back line and looked to attack it every chance they could. Tennessee was able to find SEC Preseason Watch List pair Reese Mattern and Shae O’Rourke in space on the right side of the field a number of times in the first half, but were never able to capitalize on their positions in the final third.
Both sides went into the half scoreless, with the best opportunities coming from set pieces. The first true look at goal for the Lady Vols came from a corner kick with five minutes to go in the half when Redshirt Senior Jenna Stayart put a looping header on target. North Carolina’s best chance was when they found themselves with a free kick on the edge of the box that was whipped in with pace and temporarily sent the Tennessee defense into a frenzy. After a few ricochets, the ball sat kindly, waiting to be put away by a Tar Heel, but the Lady Vols quickly recovered.
Tennessee started the second half on the front foot with a flurry of early chances. The Lady Vols continued to find O’Rourke, who had a shot from inside the box clip off the outside of the post. After some early second-half pressure, the Lady Vols found a breakthrough in the 56th minute.
Stayart played a hopeful ball forward from deep in her own half as O’Rourke peeled off the last defender. North Carolina keeper Liya Brooks was caught in no man’s land in between her own box and midfield. O’Rourke calmly rounded her, placed the ball into an open net from 25 yards out, and let out an emotional celebration as a swarm of teammates piled on top of her near the home bench.
The next 34 minutes for the Lady Vols were all about soaking up the inevitable North Carolina pressure and protecting a precious, slim lead against the nation’s top dog. The Lady Vols did just that as North Carolina piled up nine second-half shots, none of which seemed to trouble Tennessee sophomore keeper Cayden Norris, who had five saves in the game.
Tennessee made a rare venture forward with 15 minutes left in the game, when the ball found the feet of Sarah Kate Rath on the right wing. Rath fired a ball into the box, and an outstretched O’Rourke was the first player to meet it at the back post to give the Lady Vols a 2-0 lead.
Standing O For O’Rourke
O’Rourke, a transfer from South Carolina and Texas A&M, departed the game in the 84th minute to a standing ovation from Lady Vol fans after bagging two vital goals in her first game in Tennessee colors.
O’Rourke had a personal victory of making it back onto the field after spending last season sidelined with an ACL injury.
“It means a lot. It’s just how much work I’ve put in to come back, and all the injuries I’ve come back from,” O’Rourke said after the game. “It’s just a new era for us and a new era for me, so I’m really excited.”
O’Rourke was a handful for defenders and made her presence felt all game. She etched herself into Tennessee Soccer history by scoring her two goals to take down the top-ranked team in the country.
Tennessee managed just 22 goals all of last season, and O’Rourke proved with her brace just how big of a boost she can be to the Tennessee frontline.
Neutralizing Faasse
North Carolina’s Kate Faasse was the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy winner and led the nation with 20 goals in the 2024 season. Tennessee’s back line was able to keep her under wraps and limited her to just one shot throughout 90 minutes.
Stats
Final Score: Tennessee 2-0 North Carolina
Total Shots: Tennessee 7-14 North Carolina
Shots on Target: Tennessee 5-6 North Carolina
Possession: Tennessee 45% – 55% North Carolina
Up Next
The Lady Vols are back in action Sunday, Aug. 17, at home vs Eastern Kentucky at 1 p.m.