TENNESSEE LADY VOLS SOCCER: Regular season winding down
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Just two matches remain in the regular season for Tennessee soccer as the Lady Vols close the road slate at No. 7 Alabama on Friday night. Kickoff from Alabama Soccer Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET.
The match will air live on SEC Network+ with Roger Hoover (PxP) and Hayley MacDonald (Analyst) on the call.
Tennessee (6-4-4, 1-4-3) snapped a four-match losing streak with a scoreless draw against Kentucky on Sunday afternoon. A strong defensive effort was paired with another frustrating day in front of goal, as the Lady Vols were unable to convert on 17 shots in the contest.
Two Opportunities Remain: Two regular season matches remain for Tennessee in the search for vital points in the race for postseason berths. The Lady Vols' match with Alabama on Friday is the team's final regular season road test of 2026. They will return to Regal Soccer Stadium for the season finale, hosting a high-scoring Oklahoma team on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Tennessee needs positive results more than ever to secure its place in the SEC Tournament and a potential NCAA Tournament berth. The Lady Vols currently sit in 13th place in the conference standings, on the outside looking in as the top 12 squads earn a trip to the conference tournament. Additionally, Tennessee's updated RPI ranking entering the week (No. 47) puts the Lady Vols squarely on the bubble for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth based on the RPI rankings of at-large berths in previous years.
Searching for a Win: Tennessee snapped a four-match losing streak with a scoreless draw against Kentucky on Sunday afternoon, the second-longest losing streak in program history. While the result puts a point on the board for the Lady Vols, the team's winless streak extended to seven matches, which is now the longest in program history. Tennessee's last victory came in the SEC opener at LSU on Sept. 11, a 3-1 triumph over the Tigers.
Back to the Drawing Board: Despite the current winless streak, Tennessee has had little trouble generating chances in its last three matches. Over those three contests, the Lady Vols recorded 45 shots and 15 shots on goal. For comparison, over the first eight matches of the season, Tennessee averaged one goal approximately every six shots attempted.
The Lady Vols' 22 goals and 1.57 goals per game average this season both rank in the lower third of the SEC. While the offense has been held scoreless over the past four matches, quantity of chances does not appear to be an issue for Tennessee.
Finding an Elusive Goal: Tennessee is searching for its first goal since Sept. 27, an Ines Derrien strike in a 3-1 defeat to No. 3 Vanderbilt, during Friday's match at Alabama. The Lady Vols scored 21 goals in the opening eight matches of the season, an average of 2.63 goals per game, but have found the back of the net just once over the last five contests, including an active streak of four consecutive matches without a goal.
Clean Sheet Catalysts: While the offensive output has sputtered in recent weeks, the Tennessee defense continued to flex its muscle, recording the team's sixth clean sheet of the season in Sunday' scoreless draw with Kentucky. The Lady Vols held the Wildcats to zero shot attempts in the first half before junior goalkeeper Cayden Norris stepped up with three saves in the second half to secure the shutout.
Tennessee's 0.86 goals-against average in 2026 ranks within the top five in the SEC and top 65 nationally. A key factor to the team's defensive success has been consistency among personnel. Norris, Devin Davis, Milee Zych and Cora Fry have started all 14 matches this season, while Nyla Blue has started all 12 contests she has been available for.
A Look at the Crimson Tide: Alabama represents a tough test for Tennessee as one of the strongest outfits in the SEC this season. The Crimson Tide enter Friday's match ranked No. 7 in the IWSOC Coaches' Poll on the back of a 13-3-0 record. They have a 6-2-0 mark in SEC play, tied for second place in the conference standings with 18 points.
Alabama opened the season with seven consecutive victories before suffering a 4-6 loss in the nonconference finale to Harvard. The team's only blemishes in conference play came at Florida on Oct. 8, a 0-1 defeat, and a 1-2 home loss to No. 2 Vanderbilt in Alabama's most recent match on Sunday night.
The Crimson Tide have found success with a balanced squad, averaging over two goals per game and less than one goal allowed per game. Larkin Thomason leads Alabama with nine goals in 2026, while Ashley Roni is just behind with eight goals of her own. Madi Munguia has played every minute in goal this season for the Crimson Tide, amassing nine clean sheets and a 0.778 save percentage.