Shaw, Jordan Lead #25 Vols to 2-0 Shutout at Alabama

Thursday, September 28

Tuscaloosa, AL

7:00 PM

University of Tennessee

10-1-1, 2-1-1

Alabama

8-4-1, 0-3-1

Tennessee

Alabama

September 28, 2017 | Soccer

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 25th-ranked Tennessee soccer team returned to the win column Thursday night with a 2-0 victory over Alabama.

The Vols (10-1-1, 2-1-1 SEC) rebounded from an overtime loss to third-ranked South Carolina on Sunday, taking the lead on first-half goals from junior Khadija Shaw and sophomore Salera Jordan and staying in front the rest of the way.

Alabama (8-4-1, 0-3-1), a team that has averaged 19.3 shots per game and took 44 against LSU last week, was limited to 12 shots as Tennessee goalkeeper Shae Yanez had six saves and recorded her seventh complete game shutout of the season.

"All the credit in the world to our players," Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky said. "This league is good. Alabama is good. There are absolutely no gimmies in the league. So it's about coming to play every single day. And our kids did just that! Our team was gutted after the South Carolina result, so it's an even bigger testament to the fight and hunger and desire of this group to go on the road again and take care of business."

Tennessee struck first in the 19th minute when Erin Gilroy evaded defenders down the right side and crossed the ball to Shaw in the center, who lined in her team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Sophomore Salera Jordan checked into the game for Shaw midway through the first half and picked up where her teammate left off. Jordan drove down the left side and drew goalkeeper Kat Stratton off the line before putting in the first goal of her Tennessee career in the 37th minute.

The Lady Vols out-shot Alabama 8 to 2 in the first half with four shots on goal.

Neither team scored in the second, though senior Michele Christy missed just wide left in the 71st minute. For the game, the Vols took 18 shots with 7 on goal; Alabama had 12 shots and 6 on goal.

Next week, Tennessee plays Ole Miss at home (Oct. 5, 7 p.m. Eastern) and Missouri on the road (Oct. 8, 2 p.m.).

NOTES
• Tennessee now has 17 seasons of at least 10 wins. The Lady Vols are just one win away from their 2016 total (11-9-1).
• Salera Jordan scored her first goal for the Vols, but she has celebrated a goal before. She led Middle Tennessee with seven goals last season as a freshman before transferring to UT in January.
• Erin Gilroy leads Tennessee with five assists this season. It takes seven assists to reach the top five by a freshman in program history.
• Alabama had defeated Tennessee 5-1 in Knoxville last season.
• Thursday marked the Vols' first appearance on the SEC Network this season and third nationally televised game of the season. They have played in ESPNU twice.