University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Southeast Missouri
Vols Drop Season Opener to Southeast Missouri
August 19, 2016 | Soccer
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee dropped a close contest to Southeast Missouri to open its 2016 season on Friday night at Regal Soccer Stadium.
Freshman Esmeralda Gonzales scored the game's only goal in the 47th minute with a long range shot from an awkward angle just outside of the 18-yard box. The loss marked the first for UT in a season opener in 10 seasons, as they entered Friday's contest with an 8-0-1 record in the last nine openers.
Despite the loss, the Vols looked like the more dangerous team in attack for large portions of the game and finished with an 18-12 advantage in shots. Danielle Marcano, Ariel Kupritz and Anna McClung led UT with three shots apiece while Michele Christy added two more in her first game back after missing nearly all of 2015 with an injury.
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Jamie Simmons made five saves on the night, including a pair of solid stops early in the first half to keep the game scoreless.
UT's best chance in the first half came in the 24th minute when forward Maya Neal had her shot in the box blocked by a Redhawks' defender, but the rebound fell right to Anna Bialczak, who sent a close-range shot off the side of the post.
After falling behind, the Vols generated a couple of quality chances and nearly tied the game in the 87th minute. Marcano found herself one-on-one with Kindra Lierz but was unable to slot it past the junior goalkeeper.
The Big Orange will look to bounce back on Sunday evening when they host Liberty at 5 p.m. Admission to all Tennessee home games is free.
