The Tennessee Tech soccer team plays its fourth consecutive home
game when conference foe Eastern Kentucky visits Cookeville on
Friday, at 4 p.m.
The Golden Eagles (1-9-1, 0-0-1) are coming off a 2-2 tie in the
conference opener on Sept. 28 against Jacksonville State. The
Gamecocks took a 2-1 lead with about seven minutes to play. Tech
responded by playing its best soccer of the year, with a new level
of intensity. Their effort paid off, as sophomore Ashley Smith tied
the game with under a minute to play, and gave Tech a chance to win
with four shots in overtime.
"Once we see that level, nothing else is acceptable. We expect them
to play with that sense of urgency, that sense of competitiveness,"
coach Becky Fletcher said. "They scrapped, and tackled, and just
played at a whole new level."
Eastern Kentucky comes in with a 4-6 record overall, and is 0-1 in
OVC play. The Golden Eagles wrap up the weekend on the road, their
first trip since Sept. 17, when they face OVC opponent Morehead
State (4-6, 1-0) on Oct. 5. The match against Morehead State can be
viewed live online. Visit OVCsports.tv for information on
single-game or season subscriptions.
"The girls have seen how close the conference is to this point,"
Fletcher said. "They've seen that when they work hard, they can
compete, and that's exciting to them."