Golden Eagles go to overtime for third straight game, down EKU 2-1
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - For the third consecutive game, the
Tennessee Tech soccer team needed overtime before the final outcome
could be decided. After a loss and a tie in the previous two, the
Golden Eagles pulled out a 2-1 win Friday over Eastern Kentucky in
Ohio Valley Conference play.
The Golden Eagles (2-9-1, 1-0-1) were aided by the return of two
seniors, Brianne Lankford and Katie Hoover, who both came back from
injury, and freshman goalkeeper Lauren Schaedig, who made her first
career start.
"We finally had some bodies today," coach Becky Fletcher said. "We
had some depth off the bench, and having numbers helped us."
Schaedig and fellow freshman keeper Kaitlyn Thacker have been
battling for the goalkeeper spot since August, and in her first
start Schaedig came up with 11 saves.
"She played like she's been the starter all year," Fletcher said.
"That's a testament to Katilyn and her, because they train hard
together, and compete for that spot. She did a really good job, and
the team was confident in her. The team is confident in whoever
goes in goal, and that's exciting because we have two great
goalkeepers."
After giving up an early first half goal, Schaedig kept the
Colonels (2-7-2, 0-2) off the scoreboard.
"I was nervous, and I think it showed in the first half," Schaedig
said. "It was hard, stepping out on the field when I really havent
played at all, but my teammates gave me a lot of encouragement, and
a lot of instruction."
Tech tied the game early in the second half, when sophomore Taren
Brown scored on a penalty kick.
"I just tried to focus, and when it went in I was very excited,"
Brown said.
Once the game went to overtime, it didn't take long for the Golden
Eagles to seal the victory. Senior Rebecca Ross kicked in the game
winner just over a minute in, with an assist from sophomore Ashley
Smith.
"Rebecca had the same opportunity in the first half, and she tried
to one-time it, and the ball shanked out of bounds," Fletcher said,
of the game-winning goal. "The second time she got that chance, she
finished it. That's a senior for you, and she deserved it."
The win puts the Golden Eagles at 1-0-1 in OVC play, with four
points in the conference standings. Tech has six conference matches
remaining, including one Sunday when the Golden Eagles face
Morehead State on the road.
"It feels great, we all knew it had to come together sometime, and
this is a great time for things to start coming together," Brown
said.
Tech finished the game with 13 shots, including eight on goal. Ross
and senior Katie Morrissey each had two shots on goal, while Brown,
Hoover, Lankford, and Kathryn Lally all added one.
"I'm just excited that the girls are finally being rewarded for
their efforts," Fletcher said. "I was more dissapionted with ties
and losses for them, because we gave the effort in the past, but we
might not have gotten a bounce, or gotten beat with 20 seconds
left. They've come back everyday, and worked hard everyday."
Sunday's match against Morehead can be view live on the internet.
Visit OVCsports.tv for information on single-game or season
subscriptions. The Golden Eagles will take on Austin Peay on Oct.
10 before returning home to face Eastern Illinois on Oct. 17.
