Vols Continue Perfect Spring With 3-1 Victory Over Xavier

Sunday, February 28

Knoxville, TN

3:00 PM

University of Tennessee

7-4-1, 4-3-1

Xavier

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Xavier

Tennessee

Photo by: Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

Vols Continue Perfect Spring With 3-1 Victory Over Xavier

February 28, 2021 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee redshirt freshman Jaida Thomas had her third-straight multi-goal performance Sunday afternoon, scoring a brace as the Vols earned a 3-1 triumph over Xavier at Regal Soccer Stadium. The forward from Irving, Texas, has tallied seven goals in UT's first three matches of the spring semester.

Tennessee (7-4-1, 4-3-1 SEC) has now won 22 consecutive home matches against non-conference opponents. The Vols are currently riding a three-match win streak and are outscoring their competition 16-1 during the 2021 spring campaign.

"Really, really pleased with our team," head coach Brian Pensky said after the win. "We knew exactly what kind of problems Xavier was going to present. They are a good team, an organized team, and a physical team. They play a really tough three-five-two shape. As we said before and after the game, this was about answering the bell, being ready to compete, and fighting for every ball, really. There were going to be some moments of some soccer within the game, and plenty of moments without soccer in the game, it being about scratching, clawing, and fighting. That's what you get when you play Xavier, so we have to be ready for it. I'm not surprised by it, I think our kids did a phenomenal job in that."

After a scoreless opening half, Thomas broke the ice with an unassisted score in the 51st minute. The reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week had some good fortune as she connected from point-blank range for the opener. Following a free kick by Sydney Hennessey toward the top of the 18, a Xavier defender won a header that landed right at Thomas' feet as she was able to bury it into the lower left corner.

Junior midfielder Hannah Tillett doubled UT's lead four minutes later with her first goal as a Tennessee Vol. The Huntington, Indiana, native converted from the penalty spot to give the Big Orange a 2-0 edge in the 55th minute. The PK was awarded following a handball committed in the box by Xavier defender Macy Harper on a rocket shot off the foot of UT freshman midfielder Lawson Renie.

The penalty kick score was the 11th of Tillett's college career, as she fired home 10 in two seasons during her time at MTSU.

"I absolutely love it here, and over the last year I have really grown close to the coaches," Tillett said postgame. "To know that they had the confidence, not only to put me in the penalty spot but to put me on the field at all, that means the world to me, so I'm very grateful."

Xavier (1-2-0) cut the UT lead in half in the 71st minute, as senior midfielder Gabrielle LoPresti fired into an empty net from close range. The Vols gained back their two-goal edge in the 74th minute when Thomas worked through a slew of Musketeer defenders in the box for her second goal of the match.

"Our mentality up top is just to go score, be confident and take it yourself," Thomas said after the match. "If it's not open, play simple. But, obviously down the line if it's one-on-one, have that confidence to get it in and we're right there backing them up in the goal."

For the match, Tennessee led Xavier 16-11 in shots while the Musketeers held a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Romig hauled in five saves for the Big Orange, while Xavier's Olivia Jenkins had just two saves with three goals conceded.

"Our back line did well – playing against a two-front, playing against an athletic front, I thought our kids handled them relatively well," Pensky said. "We left some chances late, which we weren't pleased about, and not pleased about giving the goal we gave up. But they fought and did what was asked of them today. So, a great result, and a result that we think can help us in a number of weeks down the road, come NCAA tournament time."

UP NEXT: The Vols are set to host back-to-back matches against Atlantic Coast Conference foes over the next two weeks. Tennessee will take on Wake Forest on Saturday, March 6 before welcoming the North Carolina Tar Heels to town on Saturday, March 13.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee soccer, follow @Vol_Soccer on Twitter.