How Joe Kirt expects transfers to make impact for Tennessee soccer in 2023

Year two under Tennessee soccer coach Joe Kirt is beginning much differently than year one.

UT only lost one starter to graduation after the historic 2021 season and former coach Brian Pensky's departure for Florida State. After Kirt's first season, Tennessee lost six starters, four to graduation. There's a strong core of returners, but the roster looks quite different with 10 newcomers this season.

Six of them are freshmen, but Kirt added a wealth of experience to the roster with four transfers.

"They've all been around the block, they've all played in a lot of games and you can see that straightaway in how they approach things," Kirt said Tuesday. "It's just, there's no shock value, it's just OK, here's what we're doing. What's my role? What do I need to do today, and how can I get better?"

Three of the four transfers are graduate transfers and all will be able to make an immediate impact this season. Tennessee begins the 2023 season against Cal on Thursday (7 p.m. ET).

Sizzy Lawton, a Penn transfer, and Nayeli Diaz, a Saint Mary's transfer, are both forwards who are "confident, courageous in the attacking third," Kirt said.

Diaz scored a team-high eight goals in 18 games last season, along with six assists. She earned All-West Coast Conference honors as a senior and has experience playing with the U17 and senior Mexican national teams.

Lawton started in 37 of her 47 appearances at Penn, recording 10 goals and 12 assists in three seasons. She earned second team All-Ivy honors her junior and senior year.

Samantha Agresti, a graduate midfielder, transferred from Boston College. Kirt said she brings a "composure and a calm" to the midfield, which will be key for the Lady Vols with loss of two key midfielders after last season, Abbey Burdette to graduation and Taylor Huff to the transfer portal and Florida State. Agresti was a four-year starter for the Eagles and recorded five goals and nine assists.

WORLD CUP:Inside Kameron Simmonds' family's trip to watch her play for Jamaica at 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

Sheridan Michel, a junior defender, transferred from Oklahoma. The Ottawa, Ontario, native started both seasons with the Sooners and earned All-Big 12 second team honors last season.

The transfers' veteran presence have been especially important with Tennessee losing four seniors to graduation after the 2022 season. Three of them – Burdette, Lindsey Romig and Mackenzie George – spent at least four years in Knoxville and were significant leaders in the locker room.

Tennessee has five members of its 2019 recruiting class entering their senior year to step into those roles, but adding the experience with transfers has already made an impact in preseason.

"They've all played a lot of games and not much fazes them," Kirt said. "So having that extra leadership has been a big part of our preseason so far and they've stepped right in and feel really comfortable and on board with what we're doing."