KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee put together one of its most complete performances of the season in a 3-0 shutout win over Middle Tennessee on a hot Sunday afternoon at Regal Soccer Stadium.

After a tough loss to Alabama in their SEC opener on Friday night, the Volunteers were dominant in Sunday's victory, controlling possession throughout the match and finishing with a commanding 24-12 shot advantage. UT got goals from Mary Alice Vignola, Hannah Wilkinson and Cali Hutson while sophomore goalkeeper Shae Yanez recorded a shutout in her first-career start.

The Big Orange (4-4) started fast with six shots in the first five minutes of the game and kept their foot on the pedal throughout the half, outshooting the Blue Raiders, 11-4, in the first 45 minutes.

After a few quality opportunities earlier in the game, Vignola got UT on the board in the 35th minute with a breakaway goal. The freshman from Cincinnati was sprung free on a great through ball from Rylie O'Keefe and calmly slotted her shot past the keeper into the lower left corner for her first-career goal. O'Keefe picked up her team-leading sixth assist on the play.

Moments later, another freshman nearly gave the Vols a two-goal lead but Mady Hairston's attempt at an open goal was sent over the crossbar and UT went into the half leading 1-0.

The second half looked very similar to the first, with Tennessee controlling the pace of play before putting the game out of reach with a pair of late goals from Wilkinson and Hutson.

Wilkinson scored her third goal of the season and 25th of her career to move into a four-way tie for eighth on the Tennessee all-time goals list with Mick Imgram, Kendyl Michner and Keeley Dowling. Wilkinson corralled a long pass from Emily Morrow down the left side and beat Middle Tennessee keeper Sydney Chalcraft with a shot from just inside the box to give the Vols a 2-0 lead.

Hutson, a senior from Fairfax, Va., capped off the scoring with a great individual effort in the 88th minute, beating Chalcraft with a strike to the upper right corner of the goal from the top of the box to give the Orange and White a three-goal cushion. It was the first goal of the season for the Hutson and just the fourth of her career.

Tennessee's defensive effort was much improved from Friday's loss to the Crimson Tide. A handful of players saw action on the Vols' back line while Yanez made six saves to earn her first-career shutout. With the win, UT improved to 17-5-2 all-time against in-state opponents at home and 4-0 in Sunday games this season. Salera Jordan led Middle Tennessee (2-4-1) with five shots while Chalcraft made five saves in goal.

The Vols jump back into SEC play on Thursday, Sept. 15 when they host Missouri in a game that will be televised on the SEC Network at 7 p.m.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap

Men's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

TeamRank Presented By TeamSnap - Boys