Five Tennessee soccer players were named to the SEC Preseason Watchlist, as announced by the conference Tuesday.
Ally Brown, Reese Mattern, Mac Midgley, Shae O’Rourke and Anaiyah Robinson were all tabbed as players to watch this season.
Ally Brown | Senior | Defender
In the 2024 season, Brown anchored the backline to nine shutouts on the year, six of which came consecutively. The College Grove, Tennessee, native also led the team in minutes played (1,800) while also registering a goal and pair of assists as a center back. Additionally, Brown earned Third Team All-SEC honors in 2024.
Reese Mattern | Sophomore | Forward
Mattern is coming on the heels of a freshman season in which she earned 2024 SEC All-Freshman honors after starting in all 20 matches while registering two goals and three assists. In March and June, Mattern was called up to USWNT U-19 Training Camps.
Mac Midgley | Senior | Midfielder
Midgley had a productive year on the pitch in 2024. The 2024 Third Team All-SEC selection started in all 20 matches for the Lady Vols and scored four goals and dished out two assists across the year.
Shae O’Rourke | Redshirt Junior | Forward
O’Rourke joins the Big Orange as a transfer with previous stops at Texas A&M (2024) and South Carolina (2022-23). In 2022, the Wheatfield, New York, native was slated to to the SEC All-Freshman team after a standout rookie season where she appeared in all 24 matches for the Gamecocks. In 2023, O’Rourke held a starting role and talled five goals.
Anaiyah Robinson | Sophomore | Forward
Robinson arrives in Knoxville as a transfer from Arkansas. Last season with the Razorbacks, she started in 12 games and appeared in all 21 contests. Robinson also earned 2024 SEC All-Freshman Team and Third Team All-SEC honors after she was second among SEC freshman in goals scored (11), points per game (1.10) and goals per game (0.52).
The Lady Vols look to build off a season in which they advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. They open the 2025 season at home, welcoming No. 1 North Carolina in a 7 p.m. ET contest on Thursday at Regal Soccer Stadium.
