Soccer falls to Tennessee 3-0

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off an outstanding win on Friday night, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback soccer team suffered a bit of a let down when it took on the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn., dropping a 3-0 decision on Sunday afternoon.

The loss drops the Lady Razorbacks to 9-4-0 on the season and 2-3-0 in Southeastern Conference play while Tennessee improves to 7-3-3 overall and 3-1-2 in conference action.

“I don’t think that this was our best performance,” Arkansas head coach Gordon Henderson said. “However sometimes you have to give credit to the other team for not allowing you to play your game. Tennessee appeared to be a step quicker and won a majority of the 50/50 balls. We just weren’t able to sustain possession and force Tennessee to chase us.”

The Lady Vols took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute when a free kick by Mick Imgram from 35 yards was deflected off a Lady Razorback head and carried over an outstretched Carrie Dillsaver. The goal was Imgram’s third of the season and put Arkansas behind for just the third time this season.

In the end that was all the offense that the Lady Vols needed as the Lady Razorbacks were unable to counter a stellar Tennessee defense. Tennessee’s Erica Griffin did a superb job of keeping Arkansas senior Christina Burger from mounting any Lady Razorback attack and the speed of the Lady Vols were able to counter any Arkansas opportunity.

Tennessee would get on the scoreboard again in the 59th minute when a free kick on the Arkansas side of the center circle was again taken by Imgram. Looking into the penalty area,she uncorked what appeared to be a play in the mixer, but the shot carried straight into the upper 90 for the game’s second goal, stunning not just the Lady Razorbacks, but the entire crowd of 693 who didn’t realize what had happened until the announcer called the goal.

The Lady Vols would tack on a third goal late in the second half for the final margin of victory.

For the Lady Razorbacks Carrie Dillsaver made four saves on 16 Tennessee shots to move her career total to 311.

The Lady Razorbacks are back in action next Friday night when they return to Fayetteville to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in a key SEC matchup. For more information about Lady Razorback soccer or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.