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NCAA women Redberg's late tally sends Tennessee past Auburn 1-0 for SEC title.
Tennessee (14-5-2) set a school record by extending its streak to 411 minutes without conceding a goal, topping a mark established earlier this season. Senior goalkeeper Vanessa Phillips-Bosshart needed to make one save to record her 32nd career shutout, moving to within one of Auburn's Megan Rivera in the SEC record book. The Lady Volunteers held a 22-5 shots advantage over Auburn (8-12-1), 8-1 on frame. The UT defense permitted no shots after intermission. "I am so proud of my team in the way that they executed the game plan in the second half," UT coach Angela Kelly said. "We played a quick one- and two-touch rhythm and were dynamic up top. We won the 50-50 balls in the midfield and were so solid in the back. We possessed the ball so well and this will be great for us to build on for the first round of the NCAA tournament." Redberg put the Vols ahead 1-0 after 79:34 when she knocked in a rebound of her own shot. She received a ball in the penalty area and fired a shot on sophomore goalkeeper Anna Fiser who stopped the first attempt, but could not control it. Redberg was first to the loose ball and punched home her fourth goal of the season and second against Auburn. "Our motivation for this tournament was to win because we want to host the first and second rounds of the (NCAA tournament)," Kelly said. "It is good to be at home and winning this tournament allows us to play at home. Then we can sleep in our own beds and the girls' families and friends can be there. It gives our seniors a chance to play one more game at home." UT nearly added a second tally in the 82nd minute when freshman midfielder Véronique Maranda, reserve freshman forward Jackie Acevedo Acevedo and junior midfielder Kristen Doukakis all shot in succession, but the Auburn defense was credited with two team saves, while Fiser stopped one attempt during the melee in the six-yard box. Just before Redberg's tally, freshman midfielder Véronique Maranda flicked a shot that went high in the 76th minute and sophomore forward Genna Gorman had her shot from the right side go high three minutes later. "We were more inspired in the second half," Gorman said. "We knew in the first half that we did just enough to get by, and we knew we had to do better. We stood up for each other and everyone did their job." The Vols dominated the second half, getting four good looks at goal in the first four minutes. had shot from 17 yards out blocked by the Auburn defense. Sophomore striker Hayley Prendergast had her try from seven yards off a cross from freshman forward Kylee Rossi saved by Fiser. In 48th minute, junior defender Jenny Jeffers' indirect kick and a cross by Rossi to the six-yard box were cleared by the Tigers. The barrage ended a minute later when Prendergast fired a shot from 17 yards that went wide right. The Vols kept the pressure on Auburn in the 53rd when Rossi had a tap from eight yards out snagged by Fiser. Two minutes later, junior midfielder Ali Christoph drilled a shot high from the top of the box. "I think their offense makes their defense so good," Auburn coach Karen Hoppa said. "They attacked all second half and their offense took the pressure off the defense. That makes it easy for the defense." Auburn had one opportunity in the second half when reserve red-shirt freshman Kori Hoelscher just missed putting her foot on a cross into the box. Auburn managed an edge in possession in the opening 25 minutes with sophomore defender Kristin Stewart's open run on goal ended by UT freshman defender Sarah Van Sickle's slide tackle. Tennessee tried to turn the tide in the 25th minute when Rossi fired from 24 yards out, but Fiser made the save. A minute later, Redberg drove to the right end-line, but Fiser stepped in the way and cleared her cross. |
