Tag: soccer

Mike Lyons named Lady Vols’ assistant coach

Tennessee announces Mike Lyons as assistant coach.

Tennessee soccer head coach Joe Kirt announced the addition of assistant coach Mike Lyons to his coaching staff.

Lyons joins the Lady Vols after serving as an assistant coach for Dayton’s men’s soccer in 2024. Dayton (14-3-3) won the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

He also served as an assistant coach with Virginia’s men’s soccer from 2022-23.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Mike to our program,” Kirt said. “Mike’s experience as a player and coach will bring a new perspective to our staff and playing style.

“He is passionate and dedicated to players’ development and growth on and off the field.  Mike is a great fit in our staff and team culture as we continue our pursuit of SEC championships and our ultimate goal of bringing a national championship back to Knoxville.”

Lyons joins Tennessee’s coaching staff that includes Kirt, associate head coach Jon Morgan and assistant coach Marty Baker.

Joe Kirt. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Joe Kirt announces Tennessee soccer signees

Lady Vols sign three soccer transfers from the SEC.

Tennessee soccer head coach Joe Kirt announced a trio of Lady Vol forward signees on Wednesday.

The Lady Vols signed Shae O’Rourke, Anaiyah Robinson and Kylee Simmons.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Kylee, Shae and Anaiyah to Rocky Top this spring,” Kirt said. “Each are proven goal-scorers and All-Conference recipients in our league who will bolster a talented group of returners.

“Individually, they bring their own attacking personality on the ball and in the box, creating quality scoring opportunities for both themselves and their teammates. Each will have a significant role in our program as we expect to bring another SEC championship back to Knoxville!”

O’Rourke enters her redshirt junior season after playing at Texas A&M and South Carolina. She was sidelined in 2024 due to injury with the Aggies. O’Rourke totaled 11 goals and six assists in two seasons at South Carolina.

Robinson appeared in 21 games, including 12 starts, as a freshman at Arkansas in 2024. She recorded 11 goals and one assist for the Razorbacks.

Simmons transferred to Tennessee after playing three seasons at Missouri. She totaled 16 goals and eight assists in 45 games for the Tigers.

Joe Kirt. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Texas soccer secures first SEC Championship in Longhorns History

The Texas Longhorns Women Soccer capture the schools first SEC Championship win.

In their inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Texas Longhorns women’s soccer team clinched the program’s first SEC championship, marking a historic milestone for the university’s athletics department.

Under the leadership of head coach Angela Kelly, the Longhorns secured a 1-0 victory over South Carolina in the SEC championship match on November 10, 2024. The decisive goal came in the 79th minute when defender Carly Montgomery headed in a corner kick delivered by standout midfielder Lexi Missimo.

In a season that has seen the Texas Longhorns prove their strength of character in a new conference, their journey to the SEC Championship was capped by a thrilling 2-1 double-overtime win over Arkansas in the semifinals on Thursday.

The third-seeded Longhorns (6-3-1 SEC, 12-4-2 overall) found themselves locked in a 1-1 deadlock with the No. 2 seed Razorbacks after regulation and the first overtime period. With time winding down in the second extra session, fifth-year defender Lauren Lapomarda unleashed a 30-yard strike to score the game-winning goal—just the fourth of her career. The dramatic goal came with less than 90 seconds remaining, sending Texas to its first SEC tournament final and igniting celebration from the Longhorns’ faithful.

The Texas Longhorns women’s soccer team has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout their inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Transitioning from the Big 12, where they concluded the previous season with a commendable 6-3-1 record, the Longhorns faced significant challenges, including the loss of star forward Trinity Byars to a season-ending knee injury back in September.

Texas (16-3-1, 6-3-1) earned the SEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA women’s soccer national tournament. The tournament location and first-round matchups will be announced at 3 p.m. CT on Monday

 

Villarreal Named SEC Freshman of the Year, Three Longhorns Honored on All-SEC Teams

The Texas Longhorns made a strong SEC debut with Lexi Missimo, Mia Justus, and Amalia Villarreal earning All-SEC honors.

The Texas Longhorns made an impressive entrance into the SEC this season, led by exceptional performances from Lexi Missimo, Mia Justus, and Amalia Villarreal. In recognition of their outstanding play, Villarreal was named SEC Freshman of the Year, and Missimo and Justus received All-SEC Team honors, representing Texas on the First, Second, and Third Teams.

Lexi Missimo’s remarkable consistency on the field earned her a spot on the All-SEC First Team, making her the first Texas player to achieve this honor. Already a three-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree, Missimo’s 2024 season included a league-leading 33 points from 12 goals and nine assists. Her contributions were crucial in Texas’ conference matches, where she either scored or assisted in nearly every game. With this achievement, she joins an elite group of Texas soccer players with four first-team all-conference honors, alongside Longhorn legends Kasey Moore and Kelly Wilson.

Goalkeeper Mia Justus continued her streak of success, earning all-conference recognition in her third different conference. Justus recorded 10 shutouts this season, playing a vital role in Texas’ defense. Her efforts included crucial clean sheets against top SEC teams like Texas A&M and Georgia. In a standout match against Arkansas, she set a personal best with 10 saves, showcasing her reliability and defensive skills.

Freshman sensation Amalia Villarreal capped her debut season with the SEC Freshman of the Year award. The Michigan native quickly made her presence felt, leading all SEC freshmen with 14 points from five goals and four assists. Known for her energy and skill, Villarreal delivered standout performances against teams like LSU and Texas A&M, where she scored and assisted in each match, making a strong case for her Freshman of the Year title.

Texas (13-3-2, 6-3-1 SEC) enters the SEC Tournament as the third seed, set to play on Tuesday, Nov. 5, against the winner of Auburn and LSU. The match will take place at the Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Fla., at 2 p.m. CT.

Huskers close the season out with 3-1 win over Indiana

The Huskers concluded the regular season 6-10-1 and 3-7-1 in conference play.

On Sunday afternoon, the Nebraska soccer team concluded its 2024 season at home against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Huskers closed the season on a high note, taking down the Hoosiers 3-1.

Both teams battled it out in the match. Nebraska fired 12 shots, six on goal, while Indiana delivered 13 shots, seven on goal. Despite the Hoosiers outshooting the Huskers, Nebraska’s defense stood its ground.

The Huskers built a 2-0 lead on Indiana before giving up a goal with over 25 minutes remaining. But Nebraska put the match away over ten minutes later.

Sami Hauk finished 6-of-7 in shots faced, bringing her career total to 238, holding her in fourth in school history and one shy of tying for third.

Sarah Weber led Nebraska in the win, scoring twice off seven shots. Weber’s goals move her career total to 43, placing her in seventh in school history. She also moved to third in school history with 337 total shots and sixth in shots on goal with 31.

Sadie Waite also scored her second goal of the season for Nebraska off her lone shot of the match.

The Huskers concluded the regular season 6-10-1 and 3-7-1 in conference play.

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