Alright, you gotta see what went down Sunday! The No. 24 Tennessee Lady Vols just kept their 2026 regular season absolutely spotless, snagging a clean 2-0 victory over South Alabama right there at Regal Soccer Stadium. This wasn’t just another win against an 0-2 team, though; this was a statement game, a moment where *two* Lady Vols slammed home their first career goals, showing everyone they mean serious business, and it’s only the second match of the season!
Breaking the Ice: First Goals, Big Assists
Can we talk about these breakthroughs for a minute? Freshman forward Ayva Jordan absolutely exploded onto the scene, getting her very first career goal a little over 26 minutes into the first half. Talk about making an immediate impact! Kylee Simmons and Bella Smith set her up perfectly with slick assists, proving this offense is already clicking. But wait, there’s more! Junior defender Devin Davis, yeah, a DEFENDER, she got her own first career goal, sending the ball home almost 79 minutes into the nonconference clash! And guess who was there again, slinging her second assist of the day? None other than Bella Smith, capping off an incredible assist performance. That’s two players off the mark, and it’s only game two! What an unreal start for these newcomers!
Cayden Norris: The Wall Is Back
And if you thought the offense was the whole story, you clearly missed junior goalkeeper Cayden Norris doing what she does best: shutting teams down cold. She bagged her first shutout of the 2026 season against South Alabama, which is HUGE, especially after her incredible run of 11 clean sheets last year. The woman is a brick wall, plain and simple, and she proved it with a crucial save when it mattered. The stats scream dominance too, showing just how much the Lady Vols controlled this game: they outshot South Alabama 12-4, and our five shots on target compared to their measly one? That’s just relentless, suffocating pressure from start to finish. We even owned the corner kick battle, 4-2. The only thing the Jaguars couldn’t stop was our offense being a little too eager, racking up three offsides calls. That’s the kind of aggressive play you love to see!
So, two games into the season, two dominant wins, two shutouts, and two players celebrating their first career goals. This No. 24 Tennessee squad is making waves, and with two Lady Vols already getting United States Women’s National Team call-ups AND others snagging 2026 preseason honors, the talent pool runs deep. They’re back home at Regal Soccer Stadium on August 20 to face Milwaukee, then Western Carolina on August 23. Can they keep this absolute tear going, maintain that shutout streak, and push their perfect record to 4-0? You know we’ll be glued to every single kick!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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