Tennessee women’s soccer capped off its nonconference slate with a 1-0 win over Georgia Southern, sending its seniors off on the right note at Regal Stadium. The No. 2 Lady Vols extended their undefeated streak to start the season, moving to a near-perfect 6-0-1 as they start conference play later this week. Meanwhile, the Eagles dropped to 2-5 after the loss.
Senior Day featured a record turnout for the Lady Vols with 4,040 fans attending the game, a new program record.
“I think the energy from the crowd totally brings energy for us on the field,” Jenna Stayart said. “We love when Vol Nation shows up.”
Though the win is important, the day is about something bigger. It is about recognizing the impactful senior class, who make a difference on and off the pitch.
“They’ve been a part of so much,” head coach Joe Kirt said. “What we’ve continued to build here, they’ve been at the heart of it. Our team’s incredibly close. It starts with them and their relationships and allowing others to be a part of it. I’m proud of their individual growth, their collective growth, what they’ve accomplished on and off the field. It’s a tremendous group in the classroom, on the field, and in the community, and I’m just proud of them and how they represented themselves, our program and this university.”
Stayart, the redshirt senior midfielder, stole the show. She scored the game-winning goal in the 50th minute, burying the ball after a perfect through ball from redshirt junior Leah Klurman.
“Honestly I was just glad to put one in so we could get a win,” Stayart said. “We have a strong senior class and just an awesome team. It’s great to finish the nonconference undefeated and then get a win for all of us seniors.”
At the other end of the pitch, redshirt senior goalkeeper Ally Zazzara anchored the defense. She tallied two saves en route to a clean sheet, preserving Tennessee’s shutout streak.
“That was pretty awesome,” Zazzara said. “It’s a surreal moment to sit here after all this time, and you look up and see all the people. It’s nice to look back after five years and be like, job well done.”
Tennessee’s win caps off its non-conference slate for the year. Kirt emphasized that the Lady Vols are staying focused on growing as they head into their SEC schedule.
“It’s about us, our continued growth and development and the standard we set for ourselves,” Kirt said. “It doesn’t change anything we’re doing. Our mentality and approach don’t change. It’s keep doing it and do it a little bit better each day.”
Tennessee will be back in action on Sept. 12, taking on Mississippi State in Starkville. The Bulldogs have been a solid team in recent years, but they currently sit outside of the top-25 with a 5-1 record. The two teams are familiar foes, as the Bulldogs knocked the Lady Vols out of the SEC Tournament last season, 2-1, in double overtime.
