University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, September 11
Baton Rouge, La.
8:00 p.m. ET
University of Tennessee
at
LSU
PREVIEW: Unbeaten #8 Lady Vols Open SEC Play at LSU
September 10, 2026 | Soccer
BATON ROUGE, La. – After closing nonconference play unbeaten, the No. 8 Tennessee soccer team opens SEC play on Friday night at LSU. Kickoff from LSU Soccer Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET.
The match will air live on SEC Network+ with Garrett Walvoord (PxP) and Sara Dickson (Analyst) on the call.
The Lady Vols (5-0-1) clinched an unbeaten nonconference record for the second consecutive season with a 1-0 victory over Northwestern on Sunday afternoon at Regal Soccer Stadium. Additionally, the Lady Vols own a 19-match nonconference unbeaten streak in the regular season.
Exit Non-Con, Enter SEC: Friday's match at LSU marks the opening contest of SEC play in 2026 for Tennessee. The Lady Vols carry a 5-0-1 record into the conference opener, posting an undefeated mark in regular season nonconference play for the second consecutive season.
In 2025, Tennessee soared to a 6-2-2 record in the SEC, earning the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. Under fifth-year head coach Joe Kirt, the Lady Vols own a 19-12-9 record in conference matches.
Dangerous Derrien: After multiple close calls in the opening five matches of the season, junior midfielder Ines Derrien found the back of the net for the first time as a Lady Vol in Tennessee's 1-0 win over Northwestern.
Derrien converted from the penalty spot in the 12th minute to secure the game-winning goal for Tennessee. She came inches from scoring the game-winner in the prior match at No. 12 Virginia, where a late shot that looked destined for the top corner was miraculously saved by the Cavalier goalkeeper.
Derrien is the 11th different Lady Vol to put her name on the scoresheet this season. Additionally, all five game-winning goals for Tennessee in 2026 have been scored by different players.
Stronger Than Ever: The Tennessee defense has been stout to begin the 2026 season, ranking top-15 in the NCAA and second in the SEC with a 0.33 goals against average through six matches.
The Lady Vols have secured four clean sheets en route to an unbeaten start in 2026, limiting opponents to an average of just 7.2 shots per game and less than two shots on goal per game.
Consistency has been key along the back line for Tennessee as the starting goalkeeper and back four have been unchanged across all six matches this season.
Hittin' the Road: Friday's match at LSU will be just the second road match of the 2026 season for Tennessee. The Lady Vols opened the road account with a 1-1 draw at No. 12 Virginia on Sept. 3.
The LSU match will be the first of five remaining road matches on the Tennessee schedule. Additionally, it will be the first of a two-game road stand, as the Lady Vols will head to Texas on Sept. 18 for the second game of SEC play.
Tennessee posted a 5-2-2 record on the road in 2025, headlined by a 1-0 victory at No. 4 UCLA.
Plotting the Polls: Tennessee continues to rise in the national rankings as the team sustains an unbeaten start to 2026.
In Monday's update to TopDrawerSoccer.com's national rankings, the Lady Vols climbed ten spots from No. 15 to No. 5. Tuesday's update of the United Soccer Coaches' Poll saw Tennessee secure a unanimous top-10 ranking, with the Lady Vols rising from No. 10 to No. 8.
The 2025 season saw Tennessee peak in the polls at the beginning of SEC play, with the team earning a No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history after closing the nonconference portion of the schedule unbeaten.
This week marks the 33rd week in program history that the Lady Vols have been included in the top-10 of the United Soccer Coaches' Poll. Tennessee spent a program-record nine weeks in the top-10 of the poll during the 2025 season.
A Look at the Tigers: Revenge will be on the mind of Tennessee after LSU cut short the Lady Vols' SEC Tournament run in round one in 2025. The Tigers were one of the hottest teams in the nation at the time, securing a 2-0 victory over Tennessee before making a run to the conference tournament final, where they would fall in penalties to Vanderbilt. LSU rode the momentum to a Round of 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Vanderbilt once again.
The start of the 2026 season has been much different than the end of the 2025 season for the Tigers, with some struggles out of the gates. LSU owns a 2-5-1 record in 2026, including home losses to UCF, Florida Gulf Coast, and No. 17 Baylor.
The Tigers enter SEC play on a positive note, securing a 3-2 road victory over Miami (Ohio) in the nonconference finale. LSU's lone victory at LSU Soccer Stadium in 2026 came on Aug. 16, a 5-0 thrashing of Northwestern State.
The match will air live on SEC Network+ with Garrett Walvoord (PxP) and Sara Dickson (Analyst) on the call.
The Lady Vols (5-0-1) clinched an unbeaten nonconference record for the second consecutive season with a 1-0 victory over Northwestern on Sunday afternoon at Regal Soccer Stadium. Additionally, the Lady Vols own a 19-match nonconference unbeaten streak in the regular season.
Exit Non-Con, Enter SEC: Friday's match at LSU marks the opening contest of SEC play in 2026 for Tennessee. The Lady Vols carry a 5-0-1 record into the conference opener, posting an undefeated mark in regular season nonconference play for the second consecutive season.
In 2025, Tennessee soared to a 6-2-2 record in the SEC, earning the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. Under fifth-year head coach Joe Kirt, the Lady Vols own a 19-12-9 record in conference matches.
Dangerous Derrien: After multiple close calls in the opening five matches of the season, junior midfielder Ines Derrien found the back of the net for the first time as a Lady Vol in Tennessee's 1-0 win over Northwestern.
Derrien converted from the penalty spot in the 12th minute to secure the game-winning goal for Tennessee. She came inches from scoring the game-winner in the prior match at No. 12 Virginia, where a late shot that looked destined for the top corner was miraculously saved by the Cavalier goalkeeper.
Derrien is the 11th different Lady Vol to put her name on the scoresheet this season. Additionally, all five game-winning goals for Tennessee in 2026 have been scored by different players.
Stronger Than Ever: The Tennessee defense has been stout to begin the 2026 season, ranking top-15 in the NCAA and second in the SEC with a 0.33 goals against average through six matches.
The Lady Vols have secured four clean sheets en route to an unbeaten start in 2026, limiting opponents to an average of just 7.2 shots per game and less than two shots on goal per game.
Consistency has been key along the back line for Tennessee as the starting goalkeeper and back four have been unchanged across all six matches this season.
Hittin' the Road: Friday's match at LSU will be just the second road match of the 2026 season for Tennessee. The Lady Vols opened the road account with a 1-1 draw at No. 12 Virginia on Sept. 3.
The LSU match will be the first of five remaining road matches on the Tennessee schedule. Additionally, it will be the first of a two-game road stand, as the Lady Vols will head to Texas on Sept. 18 for the second game of SEC play.
Tennessee posted a 5-2-2 record on the road in 2025, headlined by a 1-0 victory at No. 4 UCLA.
Plotting the Polls: Tennessee continues to rise in the national rankings as the team sustains an unbeaten start to 2026.
In Monday's update to TopDrawerSoccer.com's national rankings, the Lady Vols climbed ten spots from No. 15 to No. 5. Tuesday's update of the United Soccer Coaches' Poll saw Tennessee secure a unanimous top-10 ranking, with the Lady Vols rising from No. 10 to No. 8.
The 2025 season saw Tennessee peak in the polls at the beginning of SEC play, with the team earning a No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history after closing the nonconference portion of the schedule unbeaten.
This week marks the 33rd week in program history that the Lady Vols have been included in the top-10 of the United Soccer Coaches' Poll. Tennessee spent a program-record nine weeks in the top-10 of the poll during the 2025 season.
A Look at the Tigers: Revenge will be on the mind of Tennessee after LSU cut short the Lady Vols' SEC Tournament run in round one in 2025. The Tigers were one of the hottest teams in the nation at the time, securing a 2-0 victory over Tennessee before making a run to the conference tournament final, where they would fall in penalties to Vanderbilt. LSU rode the momentum to a Round of 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Vanderbilt once again.
The start of the 2026 season has been much different than the end of the 2025 season for the Tigers, with some struggles out of the gates. LSU owns a 2-5-1 record in 2026, including home losses to UCF, Florida Gulf Coast, and No. 17 Baylor.
The Tigers enter SEC play on a positive note, securing a 3-2 road victory over Miami (Ohio) in the nonconference finale. LSU's lone victory at LSU Soccer Stadium in 2026 came on Aug. 16, a 5-0 thrashing of Northwestern State.
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