CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga women's soccer team fell 3-0 to #19 Tennessee Sunday evening at the UTC Sports Complex in non-conference action. UTC falls to 3-5 overall and the Lady Vols improve to 7-0 on the year.
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The Mocs held Tennessee scoreless in the first half and threatened early on a pair of shots.
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"We defended well, obviously in the first half. We got to halftime 0-0," head coach
Gavin McKinney said. "We created two really good opportunities in the first half for ourselves, I think in the first 15 minutes."
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Mackenzie Smith stole the ball near midfield on the left side right off the foot of a Tennessee player and punched a quick pass to
Samantha Shaw. The Mocs leading scorer, with one touch to push the ball forward, sent a shot over the net from 35 yards out.
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On Chattanooga's next opportunity, Shaw took the ball through traffic and sent her pass across to Smith who got off a shot just inside the 18-yard box that went wide to the right.
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the Mocs had six shots on the night led by Smith with two. Shaw,
Grace Klippenstein and
Faith Gober each had a shot on goal in the effort.
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All three of Tennessee's goals came in the second half on 11 shots in the period. Taylor Huff, assisted by Mackenzie George, scored the first goal just 2:10 into the second half. Huff's assist to Jaida Thomas in the 61
st minute put the Lady Vols up 2-0. The final score came nearly three minutes later off a shot by Claudia Dipasupil in the 64
th minute, assisted by Claire Rain.
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"They grew into the game a little bit and they're a really good side," McKinney said of the Vols. "They've got dangerous players all over the park. They created some good chances in the second half, took three of them."
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Mocs' keeper
Abbey Saddler recorded a career-high tying nine saves in her 90 minutes in the net. Lady Vol keeper Lindsey Romig got the win and Ashley Gabor, in goal for 15:19, recorded three saves.
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"The girls didn't stop, they kept battling, they kept fighting," McKinney said. "For us, maybe a bit disappointed with the result, but never disappointed with their effort."
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Chattanooga closes out non-conference action next Sunday, Sept. 19 against Morehead State. Follow Chattanooga Athletics online at GoMocs.com. Admission and parking is free.
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NOTES
- Chattanooga fell 3-0 to #19 Tennessee … UTC falls to 3-5 overall … UTK improves to 7-0.
- Tennessee improves its record against the Mocs to 6-0 … three goals is the fewest goals allowed by Chattanooga to Tennessee in the series.
- Tennessee outshot the Mocs 23-6 with a 12-3 shots on goal advantage.
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Abbey Saddler tied her career-high for saves with nine.
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Mackenzie Smith had two shots to lead UTC.