KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Junior midfielder Taylor Hubbard scored the game's lone goal in the 86th minute to help lead the Alabama soccer team to a 1-0 victory over No. 25 Tennessee on Friday night at Regal Stadium.

"This is a great way to start the 2018 season," head coach Wes Hart said. "We found a way to get a result against a very good Tennessee team. We've made it a priority of ours to shut teams out this fall. To keep Tennessee off the score board is a huge statement. That's a team with a ton of attacking weapons, including one of the best forwards (Bunny Shaw) in the country. Tennessee created their fair share of chances and exposed us a couple times, but (goalkeeper) Alex Plavin came up big when we needed her."

Hubbard's goal came at the 85:23 mark when she found the back of the net from 10 yards out to record the game's only tally of the night.

The Tide finished the match with 15 shots, eight of which came on frame. Meanwhile, the Vols had 17 shots but only had four on goal. Christina Maartensson had three shots on the night to lead Alabama, while five UA players ended with two shots apiece to help lead a balanced offensive attack. Tide goalkeeper Alex Plavin finished with four saves in the shutout victory.

"There are a ton of positives that we will be able to take from this game," Hart said. "We still have plenty of work ahead of us, but I'm excited for what's to come."

The Tide will open the 2018 regular season with a road contest at TCU on Aug. 17. The first home match of the year will be played on Aug. 24 vs. Florida Golf Coast at 7 p.m. CT. Admission to all home games is free to students and fans.

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaSoccer on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaSoccer on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.