KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Rylie O'Keefe stole the show in Tennessee's 3-2 win over East Tennessee State on Sunday night at Regal Soccer Stadium, scoring the game-winning goal and posting a career-high four points in the victory.

O'Keefe had a hand in all three Volunteer goals, including a free kick in the 62nd minute that proved to be the game-winner for the Vols as they improved to 5-0 all-time against ETSU.

The Big Orange came out flying in the first half after inclement weather delayed the start of the game nearly an hour and half. UT had 12 shots in the first half with five on target and took a 2-0 lead into the break after goals from Maya Neal and Danielle Marcano.

Neal opened the scoring in the 31st minute on a great team goal that was started by O'Keefe, who sent the ball into the box towards Hannah Wilkinson, who then headed it to Neal for an easy tap in goal from about six yards out. It was the second goal of the year for the redshirt freshman from Naperville, Ill.

Not even two minutes later the Vols struck again, this time off a corner kick. O'Keefe delivered the ball towards the top of the six-yard box where Marcano was able to control and push the ball across the line amongst a crowd of ETSU defenders. For Marcano it was her first goal of the year and third of her career. O'Keefe picked up her second assist of the night on the goal, giving the sophomore midfielder a team-leading three for the year.

ETSU (2-1) struck first after the break when Eleonora Goldoni cut the UT lead in half with her first goal of the game in the 56th minute on an assist from Simona Koren. The Orange and White didn't wait long to respond, regaining their two-goal lead in the 62nd minute with a perfectly placed free kick from 18 yards out by O'Keefe. The Littleton, Colo., native hammered her shot into the lower left corner to give UT a 3-1 advantage and cap off her career night.

That two-goal lead would be short-lived, however, as just over a minute and a half later Irina Brutsch was taken down in the box to earn a penalty kick for the Buccaneers. Goldoni converted the spot kick for her second goal of the evening to pull ETSU back within one with 27 minutes to play.

Tennessee was solid defensively down the stretch, holding the Bucs to just a single shot after their second goal. GoalkeeperJamie Simmons made four saves on the night to help preserve the victory for the Vols.

UT dominated much of the game offensively, taking a season-high 25 shots compared to just 13 for ETSU. Seven Vols had multiple shots for the game, led by Anna Bialczak's five. Wilkinson also chipped in with four shots and an assist on the opening goal for her first point of the 2016 season.

With the win, the Big Orange improved to 26-12-5 all-time against in-state opponents and 16-5-2 at home.

After opening the season with four straight home games, Tennessee now hits the road for a pair of games next Friday and Sunday at No. 14 BYU and American.

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