JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — The Lady Vols knew what type of game they were walking into.
A smaller, in-state school that is usually overshadowed by the Power T, East Tennessee State saw this as an opportunity to make a statement. While they didn’t have the resources, nor the pure talent to match Tennessee, the Buccaneers knew they had to find a way to level the playing field and to find a way to get into the Lady Vols’ heads.
The Lady Vols (2-1-0) managed to prevail over the Buccaneers (1-2-0) at Summers-Taylor Stadium, 1-0. The game’s only goal came in the 63rd minute from Reese Mattern.
From the opening kickoff, the Buccaneers extended pressure on the Lady Vols. They pressed at every position on the field. The force kept getting to Tennessee, forcing multiple miscommunications and bad passes that were especially evident in the first half of the game. Despite the miscues, Tennessee managed to control the ball most of the game, notably having 11 corner kicks to ETSU’s two. However, the Buccaneers were able to keep the game close until the final horn.
A major component of the game was possessions, and the game was mainly played at midfield with neither team spending much time in the attacking third. ETSU also tried to knock the Lady Vols off of their rhythm, sending the ball into the air whenever they were under duress.
“When teams like to launch the ball and just run at us, we need to settle it down and play our game,” midfielder Mac Midgley said. “I think today was just about setting, what are we dictating? What is our team going to be about? I think we did that well.”
Those questions were answered in the second half of the game. Tennessee settled in, took control of the game and played fundamental soccer en route to the win.
“We had players in position to win first and second balls, and when we were able to do that, we had the lion’s share of the game in the second half,” Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt said. “Credit to winning first and second balls. We knew that coming in, and we did a much better job of it in the second half.”
Tennessee tried its best to keep their composure, but the physical aspect of the game was shown on the stat sheet. The Lady Vols were issued two yellow cards along with nine fouls, and ETSU matched that by adding two more yellow cards along with an additional nine fouls.
Kirt knew the challenge the Buccaneers were going to present to his team.
“We’re always going to expect the best from our in-state rivals,” Kirt said. “They’re well coached, they’re physical, so we’re not surprised by it at all.”
The turning point came midway through the second half when Mattern knocked one past ETSU goalie Ashton Blair on the assist from Sammi Woods and Midgley.
“A win’s a win,” Mattern said. “We really need to work on scoring more goals. But I think each game is a new way to layer on new things, (and) each game adds up.”
Tennessee’s next challenge comes on Sunday when the Lady Vols host the Lipscomb Bisons in Regal Soccer Stadium.
