Tennessee freshman midfielder Emerson Moore was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Nov. 2, after she scored twice in the Lady Vols' 3-1 win over Oklahoma in the regular-season finale on Sunday at Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville.
Moore scored both of her goals in the first half. She opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a left-footed finish from the edge of the penalty box, which was her first collegiate goal. In the 43rd minute she scored again with a left-footed strike into the bottom corner after bringing down a long ball from Milee Zych, giving Tennessee a 2-0 halftime lead. She had three shots, two on goal.
Oklahoma pulled one back in the 58th minute on a header from a corner kick by Sophie Morrin. Cora Fry restored the two-goal lead in the 68th minute with her first collegiate goal, finishing a cross from Ines Derrien, who earned her fourth assist of the season. Goalkeeper Cayden Norris made four saves. Head coach Joe Kirt said after the match, "I thought she was gritty and tough getting on first and second balls," about Moore.
The win moved Tennessee to 7-5-4 overall and 2-5-3 in the SEC. It was the Lady Vols' first victory since Sept. 11 at LSU, and their three goals were the most in a match since that game. They had scored just two goals in the previous seven matches. Tennessee narrowly missed out on the SEC Tournament and will wait for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 16, to see if the season continues.
The school also announced on Monday that Kirt had been relieved of his duties as head coach. Jonathan Morgan was named interim head coach, and the school said a nationwide search for a new coach would begin right away.
Raw 100.5 will follow the Lady Vols' postseason hopes and the coaching search.
Sources: University of Tennessee Athletics, Southeastern Conference, The Daily Beacon