Golden Eagles head into battle with No. 11 Vanderbilt Thursday
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech has never strayed away from a challenge on the pitch as the competition helps make the team better in the race for the Ohio Valley Conference title. With No. 11-ranked Vanderbilt heading into the friendly confines of the Tech Soccer Field on Thursday night, it’s going to be an incredible test that will pay dividends for the Golden Eagles later on this season. First kick is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. on Thursday night. Metz and Josiah Jackson will provide the play-by-play and commentary on ESPN+ (subscription required), while live stats will be available on TTUsports.com. Admission to all games at Tech Soccer Field is free to the public.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
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2 | 4 | 6 |
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0 | 0 | 0 |
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | Vanderbilt | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 19 (12) | 6 (2) |
| Saves | 2 | 6 |
| Fouls | 12 | 2 |
| Corner Kicks | 4 | 1 |
| Offsides | 4 | 0 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech has never strayed away from a challenge on the pitch as the competition helps make the team better in the race for the Ohio Valley Conference title. With No. 11-ranked Vanderbilt heading into the friendly confines of the Tech Soccer Field on Thursday night, it's going to be an incredible test that will pay dividends for the Golden Eagles later on this season.
First kick is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Thursday night. Metz and Josiah Jackson will provide the play-by-play and commentary on ESPN+ (subscription required), while live stats will be available on TTUsports.com. Admission to all games at Tech Soccer Field is free to the public.
The Commodores are coming into Thursday night's match with a 2-0-0 record, defeating Austin Peay 7-0 in the season opener, then claiming a 2-0 victory on Sunday night against Louisville.
Junior forward Sydney Watts is already wreaking havoc on opposing defenses as the Lenexa, Kan., product has 10 shots – seven on net – with a goal to her credit. Junior midfielder Courtney Jones has found the back of the net twice this season with five of her six shots on goal and one of the goals coming off of a penalty try.
Freshman midfielder Reagan Pentz has been feeding the attackers well, picking up three assists so far, while freshman forward/midfielder Olivia Stafford has a goal and an assist with seven shots and four assists.
In just two matches played, Vanderbilt is controlling the pace of play with 43 shot attempts to their opponents' 16, including 21 on goal. The Commodores' defense has held its opponents to just five tries on the net.
It promises to be a physical, aggressive matchup as Vanderbilt has drawn eight offsides calls in the two matches and seen 27 fouls called against.
The Commodores have gone 180 minutes so far without allowing a ball across the goal line with graduate net-minder Sara Wojdelko completing a solo shutout and combining with senior teammate Alexa Gianoplus for another. Wojdelko has four saves to her credit, while Gianoplus has one.
The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, are looking for their first victory of the season. In two competitive contests against strong opponents, Tech has stood tall against Lipscomb and South Alabama, but just couldn't connect for that first goal and first win of the season.
Tori Soutuyo and Anna Baker have Tech's two tries on net so far this season, while Lucia Cuadra, Halle Bibee and Ebba Melin also have shots on the stat sheet.
Golden Eagle keeper Maggie Conrad is hanging tough in the net, waving off seven of the 11 shots on goal she's faced.
In the program's history, Tech does have a victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent at Tech Soccer Field as the Golden Eagles defeated Alabama 2-1 under the lights in 2015.
Following Thursday's contest against the Commodores, the Golden Eagles will head to former OVC foe Murray State on Sunday, then host future Southern Conference foe East Tennessee State next Thursday.
Fans can follow Tennessee Tech Soccer on Facebook, on X -- @TTUSoccer – and on Instagram – tntechsoccer.
Photo | Ben Craven
