University of Tennessee at Chattanooga soccer players experienced something Sunday they hadn't been part of in some time, possibly since high school.
The winning side of a dominating performance.
The Mocs earned their first victory of the season in lopsided fashion, 8-0 over Alabama A&M at Finley Stadium. Two days after a 1-o home loss to Kennesaw State to open the season, they led 3-0 at halftime and didn't let up after the break.
Peyton McCollum and Ellie Myrick finished with two goals apiece, while McCollum and McKenzie Gregg each had two assists. Gregg, Mallory Burman, Bailey Gale and Kaylin Hermanutz scored the other goals, and Myrick, Hannah Torbett and Chattanooga Christian graduate Ashley Simmons had assists.
Simmons is one of only four seniors on the roster, so she has seen the program's growth and is pleased about where it seems to be headed. The Mocs went 4-12-3 in coach Gavin McKinney's first season in 2015, a year after a one-win season. They were 5-13 in 2013.
"We've basically come from nothing," Simmons said. "When Coach McKinney got here, he immediately started changing the program, from skill level to off-the-field chemistry. I can honestly say we've grown a lot since my freshman year here at UTC.
"I'm happy the team has come together and is working for each other, but we've got to keep working."
Katie Emig saved the only attempt on goal in her first start of the season.
The goal total was the second-highest in school history and the largest victory since a 7-0 win over Tennessee Temple on Aug. 29, 2014. It matches the 8-0 win the Mocs had over USC-Upstate on Sept. 13, 2009, but fell shy of the 13 goals UTC scored against South Carolina State on Sept. 5, 2004.
"It was a good team performance," McKinney said. "There are a lot of positives to build on, but there are some things to fix. The energy and enthusiasm is there, and the chemistry is strong.
"It's an exciting time for us as a program, to have young kids with tons of potential as well as a bunch of upperclassmen who have bought into what we're doing."
The Mocs return to competition Friday with a 5 p.m. match at Murray State. Their next home match is on Aug. 28 against Alabama, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at Finley.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.