COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech soccer team opened up
conference play in exciting fashion Sunday at Tech soccer field,
going to two overtimes before finishing with a 2-2 tie against
Jacksonville State.
With under a minute to play in regulation, and Tech trailing 2-1,
sophomore Ashley Smith knifed the Gamecock defense and scored her
third goal of the season, forcing overtime.
"Ashley came out and played with confidence," coach Becky Fletcher
said. "She has all the tools she needs to be dangerous, and she's
getting better everyday."
Smith finished the game with 8 shots, 4 of those coming in
overtime. Michelle Decker scored Tech's first goal, coming off a
corner kick in the first half. Freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Thacker
finished with seven saves in 110 minutes.
"We've been playing more and more intense each game," Smith
said.
The game was Tech's first Ohio Valley Conference match.
Jacksonville State is now 0-1-1 in conference play
"It was a classic conferece game. Our girls really lit a fire, and
fought," Fletcher said. "The OVC is anybody's ballgame, it's a very
tight conference. Every game is going to be a one-goal game. It's
going to be a battle everytime we step out on the field."
The Golden Eagles will step out on the field again on Oct. 3
against conference foe Eastern Kentucky at Tech Soccer Field at 4
p.m. Admission to Tech home soccer matches is free.
Soccer battles to 2-2 tie in conference opener against Jacksonville State
Sep 28, 2008