By Aidan Corley
51 days, eight games, and elimination from SEC tournament contention since Tennessee had last tasted victory. However wounded the Lady Vols were off the back of a collapse that bordered on impossible, they still were guaranteed a pulse for one more game. With those 90 minutes, they were able to keep the season on life support.
While everyone else went back an hour, Tennessee (7-5-4, 2-5-3 SEC) rolled the clocks all the way back to 51 days ago, defeating Oklahoma (11-5-2, 5-5-0 SEC) 3-1 and bringing the winning feeling back to Regal Stadium for the regular season finale.
“Proud of our group today for getting a result at home to end the season. Certainly the freshmen stepped up to help our seniors and send them off with a win on this field, and that’s a big deal,” head coach Joe Kirt said. “It’s been a trying one for us in terms of scoring goals, and we got three today and that was the difference. We did a really great job competing, and that’s what it had to be against this team.”
Tennessee entered the match knowing there was no chance of competing in the SEC tournament after being mathematically eliminated following a draw between LSU and Mississippi State last Sunday, but the hopes of qualifying for the NCAA tournament were still hanging on by a thread.
The Lady Vols started the day at No. 45 in the NCAA’s RPI ranking, firmly in the realm of the bubble. A loss or draw against Oklahoma would have ended Tennessee’s season, but the win and results elsewhere in the coming weeks will shift the RPI rankings and keep Tennessee’s chances somewhat alive.
The door to the postseason for the Lady Vols may be shut, but it’s not locked.
“It [the win] will help us. How much? We’ll see at the end of next week, but we give ourselves an opportunity with where we are,” Kirt said. “We’re in that bubble, so we’ll see how things go. We’ve got a number of top 50 results, but proud of our group for finishing the regular season the way they needed to.”
The performance from the Lady Vols was reminiscent of one from a couple of months ago when every aspiration felt attainable and they were one of the nation’s premier teams. They had the spark and energy that come with gearing up for the postseason, while Oklahoma looked down and out.
The Sooners chased shadows in the first half, all under the spell of Emerson Moore.
Tennessee went all of October without scoring a goal in Regal Stadium; that changed six minutes into November when Moore capped off an early spell of Lady Vol dominance.
The freshman carried the ball from midfield and into the box where she had time to work the ball onto her left foot and unleash a shot to the bottom left corner. Callie Sullivan in goal stood no chance as Moore’s shot was perfectly placed into the side netting for her first collegiate goal.
Every decision Tennessee made in the first half was three steps ahead of Oklahoma: long spells of possession, getting into the box almost at will; the Sooners could not get near the ball. Moore was the engine of a Tennessee midfield, controlling every aspect of the game.
The first chance to double the lead came in the 13th minute, as Oklahoma stood like mannequins while Tennessee passed around them with ease. A long build-up where nearly every Tennessee player had touched the ball eventually made its way to Sophia Prime, whose first-time ball to Ines Derrien opened up the space for Ayva Jordan in the box. Derrien slipped in Jordan who fired her shot wide of the mark. A warning sign to Oklahoma that Tennessee was clicking on the afternoon.
Just before half-time, Tennessee got its two-goal cushion and it was Moore at the double. A cross from Milee Zych was brought under control by Moore at the top of the box who swiveled and fired for another left-footed finish, this time finding the bottom right corner.
Moore’s physical presence in midfield and finishing ability, which Tennessee has lacked, stole the show in a first win in nine games for the Lady Vols.
“She was gritty and tough getting on first and second balls. I think all of the midfielders did a really good job finding space, especially in the first half, to get on the ball. It really allowed us to keep the ball for long stretches,” Kirt said. “She’s just so low to the ground and sturdy and able to win space. Good ball striker, too.”
Oklahoma’s best stretch of the game came at the beginning of the second half, calling Cayden Norris into action for Tennessee for the first time in the 48th minute when she was at full stretch to tip a shot over the bar.
Kayla Keefer, the nation’s leading scorer, had little impact on the game up until the 57th minute when she was one-on-one with Norris and probably already imagining her celebration for her 21st goal of the season. Norris had other ideas and pulled off a heroic double save to keep Tennessee’s clean sheet intact.
From the resulting corner kick, however, Oklahoma pulled a goal back. Paige Califf’s corner headed in by Sophie Morrin.
It only took 10 minutes for the Lady Vols to find their rhythm again and restore the two-goal advantage, eventually sealing the game. Derrien had all kinds of time from the left side of the field to put a cross in; Cora Fry was able to bundle it home at the back post for her first goal of the season.
Fry and Moore, two freshmen, were instrumental in the win and have impressed all season. Fry is one of seven players to start all 16 games for Tennessee this season; Moore has started 12 games and each has played over 1,000 minutes in their first season of college soccer. Wise beyond their years and two shining stars in a dark Tennessee season.
“Perseverance isn’t the right word, but it’s a long season and as a freshman that’s the most challenging part is staying through and playing into November,” Kirt said. “It’s the most grueling thing they’ve ever done, and for them to step up at the end of the season right now, it’s a credit to Sam, our performance coach, but also them mentally and physically. They’ve done a great job.”
UP NEXT: With no SEC tournament to play in, Tennessee will now await its fate as it lies in the hands of the NCAA.