Aug. 20, 2009

In front of a crowd of 5,084 on Wednesday night in Fenton, Mo., former Lady Vol Soccer All-American and current Tennessee assistant coach Keeley Dowling scored the game-winning goal for her pro squad, Sky Blue FC, during an 1-0 upset of second-seeded St. Louis Athletica in the Super Semifinal of the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) playoffs.

Behind Dowling's 30th-minute tally, the first score of the campaign for the defender, the fourth-seeded Sky Blue continued their surprising run through the playoffs, advancing to battle regular-season champion Los Angeles Sol on Aug. 22 at 4 p.m. ET for the WPS Championship. The title match will be available on Fox Sports Net and some local Comcast Sports Net stations.

Another former Lady Vol soccer standout, Lyndsey Patterson, is currently on the roster for the Sol.

Facing Athletica and their standout goalkeeper, the U.S. National Team's current starting netminder Hope Solo, Dowling received a pass from former University of North Carolina star Yael Averbuch and drove a left-footed shot just inside the post for the winning goal.

"I had possession of the ball, picked my head up, and placed it with my left foot," Dowling said. "It was funny because Hope made such tremendous saves tonight, and mine just snuck right by her. We played our game and came out on top. I'm very proud of my goal, but even prouder of my team."

Sky Blue equaled Athletica's shot output at 13 in the contest with six of those successfully on frame, forcing five saves by Solo.

Following the conclusion of the WPS Playoffs, Dowling will quickly return to Rocky Top to begin her second season as an assistant on Tennessee head coach Angela Kelly's staff.