Congratulations Wes Dothard on being named this week's Food Lion MVP of the Week.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's soccer team fell 8-2 to Elon Monday afternoon in Southern Conference action at Rudd Field. The Mocs are now 5-3-1 overall and 0-2 in SoCon play while the Phoenix move to 3-4-3 overall and 1-0-1 in league action.

"We played well in the first 20 minutes just like we did Saturday [at UNCG]," UTC Head Coach J.D. Kyzer said. "We just couldn't stay focused. The youth of the team and the delays this weekend made it difficult for us to get our head in the games."

The Phoenix got on the board in the seventh minute on a goal from Shannon Foley. Bethany Houpt sent a cross from the right side to Foley who touched it in on the far post for the first score.

Chattanooga quickly knotted the match on a direct kick from junior Becca Smith (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) from about 28 yards out at the 10:02 mark of the game.

Elon quickly took the lead on another assist from Houpt. The freshman sent a shot deep into the box from the right side and Catherine Brinkman picked it up for a quick score putting the Phoenix up 2-1 in the 19th minute. Elon didn't take long to score again picking up its third goal less than four minutes later as Houpt once again assisted on the score. Brinkman sent a header past Chattanooga's keeper sophomore Taylor Mangrum (Franklin, Tenn.) into the middle of the net to make it 3-1 at the 22:02 mark of the game.

Kendall Stanley scored Elon's fourth goal on a shot from 15 yards out in the 38th minute and the Phoenix carried a 4-1 lead into the lockerroom at the break.

At the start of the second half, the Phoenix picked up right where they left off scoring less than five minutes into the second stanza. Foley picked up a pass from Olivia Mackey from the left side and scored into the middle of the net to make it 5-1.

The Mocs cut into the lead on a goal from senior Donna-Kay Henry (Queens Village, N.Y.) who dribbled through the defenders and sent a shot through the goal from 12 yards out to make it 5-2 in the 69th minute.

"The put a triangle around her and she did a good job of beating the defense and getting to the goal," Kyzer said.

However, Elon would put the game further out of reach with three quick goals for the final 8-2 score. Marissa Russo scored twice in about a minute and a half then assisted on another three minutes later.

"Not having Lauren Wilson in the middle is hurting us," Kyzer said of his junior who has missed the last two games with an injury. "Her veteran leadership is missed."

Elon outshot the Mocs 21-6 and had 13 shots on goal to Chattanooga's three. Mangrum had four saves for the Mocs. The game was originally scheduled to be played Sunday afternoon, but a spate of thunderstorms Friday afternoon pushed Chattanooga's game against UNCG to Saturday. Subsequently the match on Sunday was pushed back as well to accommodate and extended the road trip.

Chattanooga will return home to host The Citadel at 7 p.m. Friday at Finley Stadium. Admission is free. Live stats and video streaming of the event will be available at GoMocs.com.

www.GoMocs.com
September 26, 2011

NOTES:

TEAM
• UTC is 5-3-1 overall and 0-2 in SoCon play
• First 0-2 start in SoCon play since 2006
• Eight goals is the most the Mocs have given up this season

INDIVIDUAL
Becca Smith
• has a team-high eight goals through nine games
• has a team-high 19 points through nine games
• 56 points is third all-time at UTC
•22 goals is tied for third all-time at UTC

Donna-Kay Henry
• has three goals on the year
• has 10 points through eight games
• 70 career points - second all-time at UTC
• 29 career goals - second all-time at UTC

Billy Currington in Concert Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium Saturday, October 1 at 8:00 pm (EDT) With special guest Brantley Gilbert. The title of his new album, "Enjoy Yourself," says it all. “That’s what I want people to think about doing when they hear my music,” the happy-go-lucky Georgia native says, “I want them to have a good time.” And a good time is clearly what they’re having. Currington has garnered an impressive ten Top 10 hits, with six of those hitting No. 1 – “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer,” “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” “People Are Crazy,” ”Don’t,” “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right” and “Good Directions.” He’s sold millions of albums and has been selected to tour with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Sugarland. All seats reserved at $25.00 and $29.75. Tickets are on sale online and at the Auditorium box office. Call (423) 642-TIXS.

3 Doors Down Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium Thursday, September 29 at 7:00 pm (EDT) American rock heavyweights 3 Doors Down are kicking off their much anticipated "Time of My Life" fall North American tour at Memorial Auditorium! Special guests are Theory of a Deadman and Pop Evil. All seats reserved from $29.50 to $49.50 plus convenience fees. Tickets will go on sale Friday, August 19 at 10AM at the Auditorium box office and online. Call (423) 642-TIXS.

Former Chattanooga Mocs golf star Emma de Groot (Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia) continues her quest to join the LPGA Tour this week at Qualifying Tournament Stage II. The 72-hole tourney starts Tuesday, September 27, and runs through Friday, September 30.

de Groot is one of 240 players vying to advance to the final stage. The top 70 and ties move on and there is no cut involved in this stage.

The Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla., plays host to the four long days of competition.  It features two courses, Panther and Bobcat, to accommodate the large field. The Bobcat Course plays 6,493 yards at a par of 72, while the Panther Course is a little shorter at 6,226 yards, also with a par of 72.

Emma looks to build on her success from Stage I where she finished tied for fourth at 11-under par. She fired four sub-par rounds shooting 69, 70, 70 and 68 for her total of 277. She was the 2011 Southern Conference Golfer of the Year and six-time collegiate winner including the 2011 SoCon Championship.  She also earned all-league honors all four seasons in helping build the foundation for the fledgling Mocs program.

de Groot starts off No. 10 on Panther at 11:40 a.m., on Tuesday. She is paired with Megan McKinney and Melissa Mabanta.

Despite a shutdown effort from the Chattanooga Mocs defense, the 13th-ranked squad lost 14-12 at No. 3 Appalachian State at Kidd Brewer Stadium Saturday afternoon.  In what is becoming an annual tradition, UTC and App State played one of the most exciting games of the year.  The loss drops the Mocs to 2-2 and 0-1 in the Southern Conference.  ASU improves to 3-1 and 1-0 in SoCon action.

UTC's defense has been lights out the last three games.  Coming into today's contest, they had not allowed a point in the second half in the previous two games and no scores in the fourth quarter all year.  They kept that intensity going, shutting out the Mountaineers in the first half.  It was the first time ASU had been blanked in the first 30 minutes of an FCS game since 2004.

Appalachian's defense was just a stingy.  The only points the Mocs could muster in the first half was a 22-yard Nick Pollard (Nashville, Tenn.) field goal late in the second quarter.  Both teams combined for just 283 yards before intermission.

The second half looked to be more of the same with neither team scoring in the first 13 minutes of the third quarter.  Pollard extended the Mocs lead with another 22-yarder to make it 6-0.  The Mocs rushing attack had been stymied to just 8 yards entering the drive, but had 35 yards on six carries to get within four yards of the goal line.

On the very first play of the ensuing Mountaineers possession, Ryan Consiglio (Franklin, Tenn.) forced a DeAndre Presley fumble. Toyvian Brand(Greensboro, Ala.) pounced on the ball to give the Mocs prime real estate on the ASU 30.

UTC got inside the 10 for the third time in the game only to be stopped at the ASU nine.  Pollard came on for a 27-yard attempt but the snap was fumbled.  Mountaineer Rodger Walker scooped it up and returned it 73 yards for App State's first score to end the third quarter.

On the next Mocs possession, lightning struck again for an opportunistic Mountaineers defense. B.J. Coleman's (Chattanooga, Tenn.) pass was picked off by Jeremy Kimbrough who returned it 46 yards for a 14-6 ASU lead.

Coleman rallied his troops and answered right away.  Chaz Moore (Memphis, Tenn.) returned the kickoff to the UTC 47 putting the offense in great field position.  Coleman marched the Mocs 53 yards in nine plays, capped by a 20-yard pass to Sloan Allison (Ooltewah, Tenn.) in the end zone down the right sideline.  The two-point conversion failed and the Mocs trailed 14-12 with just under 10 minutes to play.

Alas, UTC had just one more true possession before a desperation one to end the contest.  ASU registered four of its seven second-half first downs in its final two drives to run time off the clock to seal the win.

Consiglio and Wes Dothard (Carrollton, Ga.) led the Chattanooga defense which was the story of the game.  Consiglio had a game-high 13 tackles with one for loss and a forced fumble.  Dothard made 11 tackles in limiting ASU to a meager 284 total yards.  The Mocs have kept its opponent's offense out of the end zone in eight of its last 10 quarters.

Coleman moved into third-place all-time on the Mocs passing list during the game.  He was 22 of 42 for 270 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.  Marlon Anthony (Acworth, Ga.) was his top target with six catches for 48 yards. Joel Bradford (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Jeff Veres (Thompson's Station, Tenn.) each had five for 89 and 57 yards, respectively.

DeAndre Presley had 195 yards of total offense. He completed 12 of 22 tosses for 143 yards and two interceptions -Chris Lewis-Harris (Smyrna, Ga.) and Kadeem Wise (Lawrenceville, Ga.) had the picks - while running for 52 (18 carries).  Tavaris Cadet led all rushers with 63 yards on 11 rushes.

Kimbrough led a stout effort on defense for the Mountaineers with 11 tackles, two sacks and two pass-breakups to go with his pick-six.  Brandon Grier also had 11 stops for ASU.

UTC made five trips in the red-zone today compared to just one for the Mountaineers, a missed 25-yard Sam Martin field goal attempt.  It's the only time in the last two weeks the Chattanooga defense has been breached at the 20.

The Mocs return to Chattanooga next Saturday as The Citadel invades Finley Stadium.  Game time is slated for 6 p.m.

On Saturday, September 24, 2011 as part of “Child Passenger Safety Week,” the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Safe Journey Division along with Red Bank Police Department will be at the Bi-Lo Store, located at 3901 Dayton Blvd. from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for child seat checks.

Certified child passenger safety technicians from both agencies will be available to perform child safety seat checks and to give free hands on advice. Parents and caregivers are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to have their child seats checked, as well as making sure they have been installed correctly.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported traffic crash at 7900 Hixson Pike last night at approximately 9:00 p.m. Deputies found a green 2000 Mercury Sable and a 1995 maroon Nissan Quest involved.

The preliminary investigation shows that the Nissan Quest operated by Vicki Pippin age 39 of Hixson was traveling north bound on Hixson Pike, when the Mercury Sable operated by Milton Quin 111, age 22, crossed over lanes of traffic from a side street, striking the Nissan Quest on the left front drivers side.

Ms. Pippin had to extricated from her vehicle and was transported to an area hospital where she died from the injuries she sustained in the crash. Two juvenile passengers in the Nissan Quest, ages ten and three were also transported for what was believed to be minor injuries.

Mr. Quin 111, who sustained injuries, was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The investigation into the traffic crash and death is on-going and will be handled by the HCSO Traffic Division.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today delivered remarks in the East Room of the White House highlighting the state’s role as a national leader in education reform.

Haslam and state Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and educators from across the country at the event where President Barack Obama released criteria for states to receive a waiver to the No Child Left Behind legislation.

In July, Haslam and Huffman said Tennessee would pursue a waiver to No Child Left Behind.

The text of his remarks today is below:

Let me begin this morning by thanking Secretary Arne Duncan.  We are grateful for your commitment to higher standards, for setting the expectation that every child can learn, and to shrinking the achievement gap.  We in Tennessee appreciate the working relationship we have with you and the Department of Education.

As a Republican Governor, I may not always agree with this administration on policy issues or the proper role of the federal government.  But I do believe that when there are things we can work on together, we should.

In Tennessee, we have raised our standards, linked teacher evaluation to student performance, and we are holding ourselves accountable.  We believe we are most qualified to make our own decisions about how to continue our progress in making certain every child has an opportunity to learn.

I look forward to the federal government narrowing its role in education and allowing Tennessee the flexibility to abide by its own rigorous standards.  Education decisions are best made at the state and local levels.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the President of the United States.