TEMPE, Ariz. – The Tennessee Lady Vol soccer team (2-4-0) got the third goal of the season from junior forward Chelsea Hatcher, but it wasn’t enough as UT dropped a tough, 3-1 decision to the Arizona Wildcats (2-3-1) on a hot Sunday afternoon at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

 

Tennessee out-shot the ‘Cats by a 16-15 count, including 10-6 on shots on frame, and forced nine saves from UA goalkeeper Ashley Jett in the contest.

 

Hatcher’s goal came off the first career assist (and initial career point) from freshman midfielder Sanna Saarinen at the 87:56 mark.  Redshirt senior net minder Molly Baird registered three stops during the match for the Big Orange.  Hatcher, Saarinen and junior forward Emily Dowd, who scored twice on Friday night against No. 24 Arizona State, were each tabbed to the Sun Devil Desert Classic All-Tournament Team for their efforts during the weekend.

 

Arizona wasted little time getting on the board with a tone-setting goal as a through ball up the middle found forward and UA leading scorer Renae Cuellar just onside past the UT backline.  She broke in clean on frame and fired low past Baird for a 1-0 Wildcat lead just 1:03 into the match.

 

During the fourth minute of play, a UA foul about 35 yards out from goal set up a Tennessee free kick opportunity.  Hatcher took a long shot from the middle of the pitch, but her promising drive traveled about six inches over the crossbar for a harmless goal kick.

 

A quick Lady Vol counterattack in the 15th minute resulted in a pair of UT shots.  Hatcher received a pass deep out in the middle and fired a blast that was blocked.  The ball bounced to senior forward Anna Fisher, who drove a right-footed shot on frame that forced the first save of the contest by Jett.

 

Cuellar took advantage of some space at 16:22, finding a seam up the middle of the pitch while on the run and firing into the upper right corner for her second score of the match-up to make it 2-0 in favor of the ‘Cats.

 

Another quick UT counter just a couple of minutes after Arizona’s second tally resulted in Dowd breaking in clear on frame.  The Gainesville, Fla., native ripped a quick shot from about 15 yards out, but it traveled right into the hands of the waiting Jett.

 

Dowd forced another Jett save in the 40th minute after receiving a pass from senior midfielder Julie Edwards.  She fired from about 15 yards out on the right wing, but again right into the keeper’s waiting arms.

 

The two squads went to the locker room break dead-locked in shots at 8-8, while Baird was credited with four saves during the opening 45 minutes of play.

 

The first scoring chance of the second half went Tennessee’s way during the 49th minute as freshman forward Tori Bailey fired a shot from about 14 yards out on the left wing that required an Arizona save.

 

Unfortunately, the Wildcats managed another goal at 56:04 as a pass from deep out on the left wing by Alex Davis was flicked onto the feet of Jensen Skinner.  In space she tickled the twine from about 15 yards to improve the UA advantage to 3-0.

 

Pressure in the 60th minute by the Lady Vols resulted in a pair of corner kicks.  On the first cross into the middle from junior midfielder Emily Shore, the ball ended up in the possession of sophomore midfielder Kylie Bono inside the 18.  The Yorba Linda, Calif., product turned quickly and ripped a left-footed shot that forced a quick reaction save by Jett.  The ricochet traveled over the end line for the second UT corner, but it was eventually cleared out of harm’s way.

 

With 27:12 remaining in the contest, Hatcher made a run through the middle and received a pass on the right wing, but her right-footed blast from about 18 yards was saved once again by Jett.

 

Dowd made a possessing run up the right wing in the 77th minute and crossed into space in the 18 yard box.  Bono hustled in from behind the play but her eventual shot ventured over the bar for a goal kick.

 

Cuellar nearly picked up a hat trick for Arizona in the 84th minute, but her shot from about 20 yards hit the outside of the right post and ricocheted over the end line for a goal kick.

 

With time running short in the contest, Saarinen saw Hatcher racing into clear space near the 18 yard box.  The Espoo, Finland, native passed to Hatcher onside and the Cincinnati, Ohio, product drove a right-footed shot past Jett to cut the UT deficit to 3-1 with 2:04 remaining.

 

That proved to be the last scoring foray for either squad, however, as Arizona wrapped up its 3-1 victory at the Sun Devil Desert Classic.