Though the Lady Vols’ offense has been better by leaps and bounds than last season, they were still lacking in the finishing aspect on Thursday night.

Tennessee soccer put six shots on goal against Virginia but netted just one in a 1-1 draw with the Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Virginia. The No. 10 Lady Vols (4-0-1) took the initial lead five minutes into the match, but the No. 12 Cavaliers (4-0-1) scored two minutes out of halftime to equalize the game.

O’Rourke and Cheatham lead the charge

Tennessee’s lone goal came from Taylor Cheatham in the fifth minute of the game. Ines Derrien laid out a beautiful pass to Shae O’Rourke, who booted it to a sprinting Cheatham ahead.

The Penn State transfer broke away from the defense on the counterattack, slipping the ball past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner of the net while being chased down.

While neither could muster another goal, Cheatham and O’Rourke combined for seven of Tennessee’s 13 shots. They also accounted for four of the Lady Vols’ six shots on goal in the draw.

Inability to finish

In the 16th minute, the Lady Vols came up empty twice as they looked to double their lead.

Milee Zych fired a left-footed shot off the crossbar, and O’Rourke found it at her feet on the left post. Her tap-in went too far left and off the post, away from the goal.

Now five games into their 2026 campaign, this has been the only contest the Lady Vols have not finished well in. Despite the Lady Vols putting up good looks, Virginia’s goalkeeper, Victoria Safradin, allowed just one past her as she finished with four saves.

Safradin’s last save of the night stopped a late Tennessee win. Derrien fired a shot from just outside the box into the top left corner. Safradin met the ball, getting a hand on it and knocking it away in the last two minutes.

Up next

Following the draw, the Lady Vols return to Regal Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. after a two-week hiatus. 

They’ll host the 2-2-2 Northwestern Wildcats, who are coming off a draw with Loyola Chicago. Following that match, Tennessee will begin SEC play in Baton Rouge against LSU on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. ET.