Nov. 10, 2002

Box Score in PDF Format

Box Score

OXFORD, Miss. - With the clock winding down in the second 10-minute overtime session in the Southeastern Conference Tournament final on Sunday afternoon, Lady Vol sophomore Keeley Dowling (Carmel, Ind.) headed in a cross at 108:58 to propel 13th-ranked Tennessee to a 2-1 decision over Florida. The six-time defending champion Gators (10-10-2) had never been defeated in the league's showcase event, while the Orange and White had been winless in five previous appearances until this season.

Head Coach Angela Kelly's club posted three one-goal decisions over Eastern Division opponents to claim the title: Georgia (1-0), Kentucky (1-0 in overtime) and today UF. With the triumph, Tennessee (16-5-1) earned the SEC's automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Tournament field and extended its unbeaten skein to seven outings. The pairings for NCAAs will be announced tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. on ESPNEWS.

The winning play developed following a Florida foul to the left of senior goalkeeper Jordan Kellgren. Sophomore Sue Flamini (Cranford, N.J.) arched a looping cross into the box that her teammate was able to ricochet in off her head for the Golden Goal. Dowling's first career overtime-winner was her third goal of '02 and enabled UT to win its fourth straight overtime affair. The Lady Vols out-shot the Gators by a commanding 28-5 margin in the contest, but were stymied repeatedly by the First Team All-SEC net-minder, who was also chosen as the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"I'm extremely proud of my team, they gave 100 percent effort all afternoon," said Kelly. "Even though we faced a 1-0 deficit, I felt confident that we could come through in the second half. A lot of credit goes to Florida, they had never lost a game in the SEC Tournament and the sign of a true champion is never giving up. I am very pleased that we came out on the winning end."

Despite totaling one shot over the match's first 71 minutes, Florida certainly made the attempt count. Freshman Candace Rivers sent a pass from the right flank of the midfield to junior Crystal Frimpong, who let the ball bounce once before heading it over the reach of Lady Vol senior goalie Ellen Dean (Memphis, Tenn.) at 8:41 for her sixth score of the season. The Orange and White could not capitalize on several opportunities to tally the equalizer before the break.

Dowling slammed a shot off the crossbar at 23:01 and then Kellgren stoned UT junior Rhian Wilkinson (Baie d'Urfe, Quebec) at point-blank range 30 seconds later. After Flamini hit one flush off the bar at 25:56, Wilkinson had another chance that was saved by Florida senior defender Danielle Murphy. Dowling later had another sparkling opportunity for a goal denied on a spectacular save by Kellgren with 2:52 until the intermission. At the half, Tennessee had out-shot UF, 9-1.

As the Lady Volunteers pressed for the tying goal, the team's efforts finally paid off at 77:25, when senior Jen Laughridge (Wilson, N.C.) re-directed a deflect cross past Kellgren to square the contest at a goal apiece. Laughridge's sixth goal of the campaign came off Patrick's ninth assist of the season.

Tennessee controlled the majority of play before the end of regulation, although Murphy had an attempt that was cleared away by a Lady Vol defender at 79:52. Kelly's team had four shots in the first sudden-victory period and had four more chances in the second 10-minute session before Dowling's Golden Goal. All-tourney selections for Tennessee were Dowling, Laughridge and Wilkinson.