Vols Blank Bulldogs to Secure Spot in SEC Tournament

Thursday, October 20

Knoxville, TN

7:00 PM

University of Tennessee

10-6-1, 5-3-1SEC

Mississippi State

6-10, 1-8SEC

Mississippi State

Tennessee

October 20, 2016 | Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 20, 2016

Box Score |  Photo Gallery  | Highlights | Pensky & Flynn Postgame Interviews

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee secured a spot in the SEC Tournament and extended its unbeaten streak to five games with a 3-0 victory over Mississippi State on Thursday night at Regal Soccer Stadium to set up a showdown with No. 2 South Carolina on Sunday.

Three different players scored for the Volunteers (10-6-1, 5-3-1 SEC) as they reached double-digit wins for the third time under head coach Brian Pensky. Meghan Flynn notched the game-winner in the 34th minute and also assisted on the final goal of the game to set a new career high with three points. Rylie O'Keefe and Carlyn Baldwin also scored for UT.

Despite a slow start to the game, the Vols opened the scoring on Flynn's first goal of the season. The redshirt sophomore forward corralled a great pass from Anna Bialczak in the left side of the box and placed her shot perfectly into the lower right corner of the net to put UT up 1-0.

The Big Orange added to its lead with a highlight reel strike from distance by O'Keefe just before halftime. The Littleton, Colo., native gathered the ball about 40 yards from goal and caught the MSU keeper off her line, sending a long attempt off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net for her fifth goal of the year to give the Vols a 2-0 lead at the break.

Tennessee didn't waste much time in the second half before putting the game away with its third goal of the night. Baldwin found herself alone in front of goal for an easy tap in after a cross from Mackenzie Gouner was deflected by Flynn towards the top of the six-yard box. Baldwin was there for the easy finish to put the Vols up 3-0.

Mady Hairston nearly made it 4-0 later in the second half but was unable to covert on a pair of quality chances in the 75th minute. The Bulldogs (6-10, 1-8 SEC) outshot the Vols, 15-11, for the game but sophomore goalkeeper Shae Yanez made a couple of great saves to preserve the shutout. She finished with six stops for the game before Jamie Simmons replaced her for the final nine minutes. Kennadi Carbin led MSU with five total shots and two on goal.

UT's three goals tied a season high and extended the teams streak of multi-goal games to six after the Vols only had five multi-goal performances all of last season. Hannah Wilkinson's five-game goal streak came to an end, however, the New Zealand native record a point for the sixth consecutive contest with her team-leading ninth assist of the year.

With the win, Tennessee continued its dominance over Mississippi State, improving to 15-2-1 all-time against the Bulldogs while earning its eighth win in the last nine meetings. The Vols now move on to a massive game with South Carolina on Sunday evening at Regal Soccer Stadium. The Gamecocks defeated Vanderbilt, 2-1, in overtime on Thursday night to win their 15th straight game and remain undefeated. Sunday will be Senior Night as well for UT with game time slated for 5 p.m. on SEC Network +/WatchESPN (Online). Admission is free for all fans so don't miss your final chance to see the Vols play at home this season.