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UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE LADY VOLS:

TENNESSEE EARNS SWEET 16 SPOT VS PORTLAND 19 November 2007

On the strength of junior forward Kylee Rossi’s program record-breaking 30th career goal, the University of Tennessee women’s soccer team earned a spot in the NCAA “Sweet 16” with a 1-0 double overtime victory over Clemson on Sunday. The Lady Vols improve to 15-4-2 overall and advance to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in program history.

Their opposition will be the University of Portland Pilots whom the Lady Vols will face on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. PT at Merlo Field. Rhian and Sincy, both number 12s at University, will be cheering for different teams!

The goal is Rossi’s 12th of the season, giving her 30 points on the year. With the score the Pennington, N.J., native is now the career record holder in goals, game-winners and golden goals. Rossi pushed past Lady Vol greats Keeley Dowling (2001-04) and Rhian Wilkinson (2000-03) with her fourth career golden goal and topped Kayla Lockaby’s (2001-04) match-winners mark with the 12th of her career.

In the scoreless first half, the Lady Vols outshot the Tigers 8-5. Both teams had several good scoring opportunities but neither could find the back of the net. Johnson made two saves in the first half, while Phillips made three.

The two squads came out of the halftime break with new energy, combining for five shots on goal in the second 45 minutes. The Orange and White put the pressure on the Clemson backline, forcing junior defensive anchor Molly Johnson to step up to hold UT to eight shots in the second half. Phillips matched her first half output with three saves in the second frame.

Five of Rossi’s team-leading nine shots were on goal. The nine shots also pushed Rossi to the top of the Tennessee record books in career shots with 241. Rossi passed former Lady Vol Lyndsey Patterson (2001-04) with the shot on the game-winner.

Tennessee remains undefeated at home this season with the win, improving to 9-0-0 at Regal Soccer Stadium during the 2007 campaign. The Lady Vols advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. The win marks UT’s second over an ACC team this season and first in the NCAA Tournament. With the victory, the Big Orange notched its first NCAA Tournament overtime win. Tennessee is now 27-11-16 all-time in matches that go to overtime.

The University of Tennessee women’s soccer team will head to the University of Portland for the third round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend, the NCAA announced on Monday. The Lady Vols will face the Pilots on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. PT at Merlo Field.

The Orange and White have never advanced past the third round of NCAA postseason play. Meanwhile, the Pilots are the No. 2 seed in UT’s section of the bracket and enter the match with a 17-3-0 record after topping Denver and Colorado in the opening rounds. UP was ranked third in the final regular season National Soccer Coaches Association/adidas poll and has won two of the last five national championships in 2002 and 2005.

The two teams have met just once before on Sept. 7, 1998 when the seventh-ranked Pilots posted a 5-0 win at Merlo Field. Tennessee will be looking for its first win in program history over a team from the West Coast Conference after compiling an 0-3-1 record all-time.