Perhaps a little consistency will prove to be effective for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga soccer team in 2015.
The school’s sports program that had fallen on the roughest of times made a coaching change after a 1-17-1 season in 2014, with Gavin McKinney taking over. He’s inherited a group that feels a “breath of fresh air” could lead to a successful season.
Senior goalkeeper Lauren Thomas and senior – and Soddy-Daisy graduate – Hannah Wyatt were both felled by ACL injuries over the past couple of seasons. Thomas’s injury led to a carousel at the position last year, with seven players getting time in goal.
Hannah Wyatt participates in a scrimmage game for the UTC soccer team Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.The Mocs were outscored 99-20 last season, but McKinney has brought an attacking approach to UTC.
And the players love it.
“Our whole mentality is completely different from last year,” Thomas said. “Last year we were focused more on defending and getting behind the ball. We’re still getting behind the ball, but this year we’re attacking more, going straight forward. We want to create more chances; we want to score more goals.”
The team scored five goals in its first two scrimmages – a 2-1 last-minute loss at Belmont and a 4-2 win over Alabama-Huntsville. The Mocs open their season today at 2 against Austin Peay at Finley Stadium, and they can earn their first win over a Division I program since a 2-1 defeat of Tennessee Tech in Sept. 20, 2013.
Wyatt tore her ACL in UTC’s next match, then reinjured it during the rehab process and had to miss last season. She’s been moved to the center back position after playing midfielder and forward for most of her life.
“The other day at practice, I was thinking about all of the emotions of my career – (Southern Conference) all-freshman, then injuring my knee, then the rehab – and I’m just thankful to be able to play,” Wyatt said. “I know girls who have torn their ACL twice and doctors said to stop playing, so I know there’s a purpose why I came back. I’m just thankful I’m out there, so if I play 10 minutes or all game, I’m thankful to be on the field.”
The Mocs were picked eighth out of nine teams in the preseason conference poll. Among the returners are senior midfielder Clare Latham, who had a team-high seven assists in 2014, and McKenzie Gregg, who tied for second in goals scored with three. McKinney brought in a number of players since his arrival, including Middle Tennessee State transfer Peyton McCollum, who scored the team’s goal against Belmont.
“Our goal for year one is first and foremost to be competitive in every match we play,” McKinney said. “We want to be organized; we want to be fit; we want to be hard-working. We need to create a culture, and we do that in how we train and how we prepare outside of training. We want the girls to buy into being top Division I athletes.
“I hope to be as competitive as we can be, and hopefully we’ll get results because of that.”
Admission to the game is free.
Meet the Mocs
Right outside Finley today at the Chattanooga Market in the First Tennessee Pavilion, all the other UTC teams will be signing autographs for fans: the basketball, women’s golf, softball and volleyball teams from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; football and the spirit squad from 1 to 2; and cross country/track, men’s golf, tennis and wrestling teams from 2 to 4.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.