Soccer battles to 2-2 tie in conference opener against Jacksonville State

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.