Tennessee soccer returned to the pitch with the defending national champions and came away with two second-half goals to shock No. 1-ranked North Carolina.
Behind a pair of balls that found the back of the net for Shae O’Rourke, and a strong performance in the net for Cayden Norris, the Lady Vols stole a 2-0 win to open the season.
Tennessee adds its first win over North Carolina in program history, improving to 1-12-1 all time against the Tar Heels. It is also the first time the Lady Vols have defeated a No. 1-ranked team in their history, improving to 1-9-1.
The Lady Vols were outshot in the matchup 14-7, but took advantage when the strongest opportunities presented themselves. North Carolina (0-1) produced a strong offensive attack, but could not find the back of the net.
Here are some takeaways from Tennessee’s (1-0) season opener at Regal Stadium.
North Carolina dominates early possession battle, Lady Vols finish half strong
The Lady Vols struggled to maintain possession of the ball through the opening minutes.
The ball only passed midfield twice through the first five minutes played, and the first resulted in a foul on O’Rourke. Meanwhile, the second was sent too far in front of the tracking Lady Vol on the sideline, and headed straight out of bounds. North Carolina put two shots on goal during that stretch.
Tennessee failed to record a shot on goal until the 12th minute when O’Rourke sent a ball to the hands of the Tar Heels’ keeper, Liya Brooks.
Milee Zych saved North Carolina’s best chance in the 31st minute. Olivia Thomas struck a ball to the left post where Norris was out of position, but Zych was there to stop the ball and keep the scoreless tie intact.
Sarah Kate Rath had a chance to attack in the 39th minute, but sent the ball over the trees behind the net. Shortly after, the Lady Vols earned a corner kick but failed to convert with a chance in front of the net.
Two of Tennessee’s three first-half shots came in the final six minutes.
Tennessee strikes first
O’Rourke opened the second half with the Lady Vols’ strongest chance to score. After the Tar Heels turned it over in their own territory, O’Rourke split two defenders in the far side of the box and sent the ball just wide of the post.
Then, she got her chance to make up for it.
At the 56:54 mark, O’Rourke marched past North Carolina goalie Brooks and sent the ball to the back of the net from about 30 yards out. Brooks came far out of the box, and the Texas A&M transfer made her pay.
Kate Runyon gave Tennessee another opportunity to score when she pushed the ball into the box in the 66th minute, but Brooks got her hands on the ball and denied the shot attempt.
The Lady Vols did it again in the 75th minute when Rath took a ball in the near side of the box, firing it across the front of the goal to O’Rourke to double the lead.
Up next
Tennessee soccer returns to the pitch with Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, August 17th at 1 p.m.
