Wilkinson completes hat trick with game-winner as A&M downs Tennessee

Jazmine Wilkinson highlighted a thrilling afternoon in Rocky Top with a hat trick and an electric game-winner as Texas A&M defeated Tennessee, 4-3.

Not only did Wilkinson tally three goals, two of those were equalizers before her decisive header in the 78th-minute put the game away.

Tennessee’s Jordan Fusco also matched Wilkinson’s hat trick, opening scoring on Kenna Caldwell’s goal with a tight angle in the fifth minute. Caldwell dived but the shot made it in the back right corner of the net.

Goalkeeper Abby Reisz stepped out of the Tennessee box to receive a pass from a defender but Wilkinson — A&M’s leading scorer — bodied her off the ball and found her first goal of the day. The ninth-minute score snuck its way inside the left post to make it 1-1.

Grazing underneath the crossbar from just outside the Volunteers’ 18-yard box, Sydney Becerra’s goal in the 14th minute put the Aggies in the lead on an assist by Mia Pante.

The Volunteers made a keeper change at halftime with Reisz exiting the match and Ally Zazzara entering. Reisz subbed out with five saves but allowed two goals.

Within 20 seconds of the match returning to play after the half, Fusco scored another equalizer in the 46th minute. Maria Nelson beat Macy Matula and passed it off to Fusco who redirected the bouncing ball between Caldwell and her right post.

Fusco’s capped off her hat trick and gave Tennessee the lead in the 48th minute.

Attempting to recreate her first half goal, Becerra shot from a similar location and smacked the crossbar. Alternatively, Becerra’s shot deflected out in the 50th minute.

Caldwell shut down Kameron Simmonds' shot in the 65th minute with a block as she fell to the ground. The Aggie keeper was fired up, and she yelled to her team that they are better than the product they are putting out on the field.

A hard challenge won by Taylor Jernigan in the 69th minute nearly allowed her to tie things up once again. Jernigan’s challenge released the ball that was picked up by Wilkinson, who attempted to assist Jernigan in the goalbox.

Then Wilkinson struck twice.

Off a freekick served by Caldwell, the senior forward knotted the match as she toe-poked the ball into the back of the net in the 77th minute.

Less than a minute later, she then completed her hat trick as Sammy Smith lifted the ball up in the air and Wilkinson headed it in to take the lead.

Now 8-6-3 (4-3-2 SEC) on the season, Texas A&M will close the regular season on the road at LSU on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.