As the Lady Vols move past the middle of the season, conference play keeps getting hotter.
With another intense SEC matchup, the driving defensive theme of No. 5 Tennessee’s season stayed true in a 1-0 win over Texas A&M. The Lady Vols’ (9-1-1, 3-1 SEC) only tally on the scoreboard came courtesy of the leg of Reese Mattern, a clutch time point that proved to be the difference in the matchup with the Aggies (3-5-3, 0-4 SEC).
It was a hard-fought effort from both sides early, a battle that saw few shots in the first half. Tennessee mustered just three while holding Texas A&M to a pair. After a tumultuous 71 minutes, the first goal was delivered by Mattern with an assist from Mac Midgley and freshman Milee Zych. Mattern’s strike gave the sophomore her second goal of the season and the fourth of her young career.
“All you need is one to win the game,” Mattern said. “Scoring that when we still had time to get more and time to defend was great for the team. It just kinda raised that energy.”
The Charlottesville, Virginia, product usually plays on the left side of the field, but pounced on the goal after switching to the right side.
“I’m right-footed, so that helps a lot coming in rather than going out wide,” Mattern said. “But that wasn’t planned.”
Goalkeeper Caden Norris also stayed active, racking up three saves in the second half to help lock down Tennessee’s slim lead.
“I know the people in front of me, their mind’s racing,” Norris said. “They’re tired. I mean, they’ve been playing for 90 minutes, so it’s on me to calm them down and keep their heads in it. They’re running around, they’re doing their job. I can see everything, so I think it’s on me to just keep talking to them, keep them calm.”
The Aggies put the pressure on in the second half, posting eight shots. The Lady Vols found a way to shut down each of Texas A&M’s seven corner kicks.
“They were really organized and made it difficult,” head coach Joe Kirt said. “They almost caught us on the counter a couple times. Our players are competing really well. I think it’s continuing to figure out solutions for them when we encounter different systems and different rhythms of play.”
Tennessee will welcome Georgia to Regal Soccer Stadium on Oct. 2 for another conference battle, looking to redeem itself from its loss in the two programs’ last meeting during the 2024 season.
