KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Goals from Michele Christy and Mary Alice Vignola along with a strong defensive performance paved the way for a 2-0 shutout victory for Tennessee over Missouri on Thursday night at Regal Soccer Stadium.

The Big Orange (5-4, 1-1 SEC) surrendered just three shots on goal to a high-scoring Tigers' team that entered the night tied for fourth in the SEC with 18 goals this season. Head coach Brian Pensky decided to move Danielle Marcano and Maya Neal to the back line and it paid major dividends for the Volunteers.

Tennessee's back four of Marcano, Neal, Kathryn Culhane and Emily Morrow played the entire match and stifled the Mizzou attack throughout the night while helping the Vols record their second straight shutout and fourth overall this season.

The Orange and White jumped out a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute when Christy scored off a cross from Hannah Wilkinson. The Loveland, Ohio native one-timed Wilkinson's pass into the lower right corner of the net from the center of the box for her first goal of the year.

UT generated a couple of other quality chances in the opening 45 minutes but was unable to add to its lead and went into the break with a one-goal cushion as well as an 8-5 shot advantage.

Anna Bialczak nearly scored her second goal of the year in the 67th minute but her half-volley attempt from just outside the six-yard box rang off the crossbar. It didn't take long for Bialczak to get on the scoresheet however, as moments later she whipped a cross into the box from the left flank that was partially deflected by Wilkinson and ended up on the foot of a wide-open Vignola at the back post, who easily slotted it home for her second goal in as many games. Bialczak picked up her second assist of the year on the goal, which gave the Vols a 2-0 lead with just under 23 minutes to play in the game.

The defense took over from there as the Tigers (5-3, 1-1 SEC) recorded only three shots for the remainder of the contest. Goalkeepers Shae Yanez and Jamie Simmons combined for the shutout for UT, each playing a half. Wilkinson's pair of assists on the night moved her into a tie for first on the team with 10 points and also moved her within two points of cracking Tennessee's top-10 career scoring list.

With the win, the Big Orange recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season, picked up their first SEC win and also improved to 3-0 all-time against Missouri at home. UT will now hit the road for a pair of tough SEC matches next week at Georgia (Sept. 22) and at No. 4 Florida (Sunday).

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