VMI Edges UTC, 2-1, in Soccer

McKenzie Gregg Scored UTC's goal

  • Sunday, October 11, 2015
  • B.B. Branton
UTC's McKenzie Gregg (11) prepares to pass the ball in Sunday's 2-1 loss to VMI at Finley Stadium. UTC's goal was on a penalty kick by Gregg.
UTC's McKenzie Gregg (11) prepares to pass the ball in Sunday's 2-1 loss to VMI at Finley Stadium. UTC's goal was on a penalty kick by Gregg.
photo by Dale Rutemeyer

The visiting VMI Keydets scored two first half goals and held on for a 2-1 win over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in a Southern Conference soccer match Sunday at Finley Stadium.

VMI (5-9-0, 1-4-0) took a 1-0 lead on Blake Cashin’s goal in the 10th minute followed by teammate’s Olivia Cotton’s score off a rebound in the 22nd minute for the two goal lead before intermission.

In the final home match of the season and on senior day, UTC cut VMI’s lead in half on a penalty kick by sophomore McKenzie Gregg – her third goal of the season – in the 61st minute.

The Mocs (3-10-2, 1-4-1) played a strong second half and had several scoring opportunities with five corner kicks and outshot the Keydets, 8-5, in the final 45 minutes.

“We played a good second half with lots of energy, but we must play a full 90 minutes,” said UTC coach Gavin McKinney.

“After making two costly mistakes in the first half it was tough to recover, but we did play with a sense of urgency in the second half.”

Next Match: Oct.

16 UTC at Samford

 

VMI 2, UTC 1

VMI 2 - 0 -- 2

UTC 0 -1 -- 1

Stats:

Score: VMI, 2-1

Goals: VMI, 2-1

Shots: VMI, 14-11

Corner Kicks: UTC, 6-2

Saves: UTC, 7-6

Goalies: UTC – Mollie Miller … VMI - Darien Dunham

Fouls: VMI, 16-10

Offsides: None

Yellow Cards (2): VMI - Emma Quirk (31st minute); UTC Emily Moseley (58th minute)

Red Cards: None

 

The Voice of UTC Soccer: It was the first home match in the inaugural season of UTC women’s soccer in 1996 and the Blue and Gold needed a public address announcer to give starting lineups, goals scored, substitutions, etc.

A UTC fan quickly turned p.a. announcer was Bill Bolen and he has been the voice of UTC soccer for 20 years.

“Whoever had agreed to be the p.a. announcer didn’t show up, so someone in the stands asked if I would step in and I agreed,” said  Bolen a local attorney and soccer enthusiast as he watched the Mocs edge MTSU, 3-2 Sept.8, 1996

One could call him the Lou Gehrig of UTC soccer who replaced a “Wally Pipp” who never showed.

“I have probably missed only a handful of home matches in 20 years,” stated Bolen as the team has used Hixson High School, North River Soccer Complex near Dupont and now Finley Stadium as its home field.

A soccer enthusiast, Bolen is one of the founders of the Chattahooligans – the well-known spirit group for FC Chattanooga and has attended five of the last six men’s World Cup events, traveling to Korea, Germany, France, South Africa and the United States

“I enjoy watching the UTC women play and I guess I’ll be around as long as they need my services.”

Another decade or two sounds great.

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

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