In Tennessee soccer’s tie with the No. 9 ranked UCLA Bruins, one thing was for certain: the Lady Vols defense shined bright under the Regal Stadium lights.
Coming into the game as heavy favorites, the No. 9 ranked UCLA Bruins looked to bounce back from a recent loss. They gave up their first match of the season last Sunday, taking a 1-0 loss to Pepperdine and snapping their five-game win streak.
Looking for vengeance, the Bruins (5-1-1) set off for the South, facing the unranked Lady Vols (3-1-1) in Knoxville before traveling north to Lexington to face the unbeaten Wildcats of Kentucky.
Despite being heavy home underdogs, the unranked Lady Vols fought hard in a match that ended in a 0-0 tie.
The Tennessee defense, led by goalkeeper Ally Zazzara, has made a name for itself this season, holding UCLA to their second consecutive shutout. This extends Zazzara’s streak to four games with a clean sheet, having not let up a goal since their season opener at Indiana.
“I think we have a strong defensive five or six players,” Zazzara said. “I think they’re very connected when they play. There have been a lot fewer shots on goal recently, I clean up the ones that happen to get by.”
Zazzara’s role for the Lady Vols has been undeniable, but the Lady Vols defense has stepped up as a whole. Although the Bruins ripped off 16 shots, only five were quality looks on the goal.
Defender Sarah Bridenstine took a moment to recognize her goalie and the rest of the Tennessee defensive unit.
“Ally is very vocal in the back and demands a lot of us, but that keeps us connected in the backfield,” Bridenstine said. “She expects a lot of us, and we do too of her. We have a great back six, and we’re all family back there.”
Bridenstine also reflected on what the Lady Vols did well, noting improvement in their ability to get the first look on the ball.
“I think the defense was first to many balls,” said Bridenstine. “I think that was something we maybe struggled with in the past, but we got to keep doing that.”
Lady Vols head coach Joe Kirt was also pleased with how his defense played against a tough opponent.
“We had to defend the midblock tonight, and we were organized the first 15 minutes,” Kirt said. “We had to tweak some things with our shape but after that, I thought they defended well.”
After the hard-fought draw with UCLA, the Lady Vols continue their home stretch, hosting their next three opponents in Knoxville. The stretch will continue Sunday afternoon, as Tennessee hosts the Florida Atlantic Owls for their next game.
“It’s about holding our standards,” Kirt said. “That’s a challenge on Sunday at home to come out and step on the field just like we did tonight. They’ve been great this season, and I expect that to stay the same on Sunday.”
With the Lady Vols building momentum heading into the season, confidence will be key as they move into the bulk of their schedule.
