When the NCAA released the 2004 Division I Women’s soccer championship bracket on Monday, the Lady Vols found themselves in unfamiliar territory – on the opposite side of the bracket from any of its normal rivals.
After being placed with a third-round matchup at North Carolina in 2002 and a rubber match at Florida in 2003, Tennessee (15-4-2) begins NCAA tournament play tonight with a match against Furman and no chance to meet any team played during the regular season until the national quarterfinals.
“We’re really excited with our draw,” UT senior midfielder Sue Flamini said. “We’re used to seeing North Carolina or Florida in our bracket.”
Instead, the Lady Vols begin with an opening-round match against Furman (13-8) at 5:30 p.m. today at the Tennessee Soccer Complex. A win against the Lady Paladins would send UT into a second-round match on Sunday afternoon against the winner of the Wake Forest-UAB contest.
Furman’s trip to Knoxville marks its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past six years. The Lady Paladins won an automatic berth into the tournament as the winner of the Southern Conference tournament.
Junior forward Andre’a Morrison leads Furman, which heads into the NCAA opener having won 12 of its last 13 matches. Morrison, who has nine goals and four assists in the 2004 season, was named the SoCon Tournament MVP after recording a hat trick in an opening-round win over Elon.
Goalkeeper Andie Hindsaw has garnered eight shutouts on the season while tending the net for the Paladins. She holds a 1.66 goals-allowed-average in 21 games in 2004.
Furman head coach Brian Lee sees his team’s first round matchup against 11-seed Tennessee as a challenge.
“Tennessee is a well-coached team,” Lee said. “Angie Kelly, Samantha Baggett and Scott Blount are one of the best staffs in the country. We will have to be at our best to have a chance to advance.”
The Lady Vols come into the contest off a disappointing loss to archrival Florida in the championship game of the SEC Tournament. Tennessee lost 2-1 in double overtime on a goal from Florida defender Monica Hoyles in the 108th minute of action.
The players hope to put the loss to Florida in the past as they move into NCAA tournament play.
“We refocused in practice this week,” senior midfielder Kayla Lockaby said. “Our concentration has been a lot better. We are focusing ourselves on improving in every aspect of the game as we get ready for Furman.”
Senior defender Keeley Dowling and junior goalkeeper Vanessa Phillips-Bosshart lead Tennessee’s defense, which has allowed only two goals in the last four games. Dowling was named last week as a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s top collegiate soccer player.
Freshman forward Genna Gorman leads Tennessee on the offensive charge. Gorman scored the lone goal in UT’s 1-0 win over Vanderbilt in the SEC semifinals and tossed out two assists in the first round victory over Kentucky.
Tennessee, which outshot Florida by a 23 to 14 margin in the championship game, wants to focus on finishing its opportunities.
“They always give me a ton of effort and heart each time they take the field,” UT coach Angela Kelly said. “We’re just going to have to do a better job of finishing our offensive opportunities, because that will make us a better team.”
