Tech soccer hosts North Alabama for Senior Day on Sunday
The Tennessee Tech soccer team will tie a ribbon on its non-conference campaign with a Sunday home match against North Alabama.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
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Team Stats
North Alabama
| Game Statistics | North Alabama | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 17 (7) | 15 (5) |
| Saves | 5 | 6 |
| Fouls | 10 | 8 |
| Corner Kicks | 6 | 5 |
| Offsides | 0 | 1 |
By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team will tie a ribbon on its non-conference campaign with a Sunday home match against North Alabama. Kickoff with the Lions is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
Sunday's clash will also serve as Tech's annual Senior Day with a special pre-match ceremony scheduled to honor the careers of Reagan Smiley, Cheyenne McCloud, Krista Eik Hardardottir, Claire Palya, Maggie Conrad, Katie Toney, Addison Johnson, Melina Hamm and Allison Lee.
Admission to Tech Soccer Field is free of charge. The match will be livestreamed on ESPN+. Click here to watch. Live stats will also be available. Click here to view.
A look at Tennessee Tech
Following an 0-4 start to the season, the Golden Eagles have picked up draws in four of their last five contests, which includes three-straight affairs following Thursday's 2-2 draw at Middle Tennessee. The battle with the Blue Raiders tied a season-high in goals scored after the purple and gold produced a pair of scores against Chattanooga in a 2-2 tie on Sept. 4.
Natalie Howard put the Golden Eagles on the board with a goal in the 27th minute for the sophomore's second score in the last three matches. Howard also split the pipes and picked up an assist in the match with the Mocs to give her five points in the last three affairs. The Collierville, Tenn. native leads the Golden Eagles with the two goals and five points.
After being blanked in its first four contests, Tech (0-5-4) has since found the back of the net a combined five times in the last five matches. Along with Howard's pair of net-finders, Ebba Melin, Tori Soutuyo and Allison Lee have all scored this season. Howard, Soutuyo, Melina Hamm, Claire Palya and Cheyenne McCloud have all tallied assists on the year.
TTU keeper Maggie Conrad heads into her Senior Day third on the program's all-time wins list with 23 career victories and second in career shutouts with 18 throughout her Tech tenure. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa product posted a clean sheet in Tech's last Sunday match in a scoreless draw at Kennesaw State on Sept. 7.
A look at North Alabama
The Lions (3-2-2) come to Cookeville having last played on Sunday, Sept. 7 in a 1-0 loss at Chattanooga. The matchup with the Mocs is one of two common opponents Tech has already faced this season after UNA fell 1-0 to ETSU in the season opener on Aug. 14. The Golden Eagles played ETSU to a 1-1 draw in Cookeville Aug. 28.
North Alabama has also faced OVC foes UT Martin and Southeast Missouri. The Lions played UTM to a scoreless draw on Aug. 21 in Martin and knocked off SEMO 3-0 in Cape Girardeau on Aug. 31. Tech will host the Skyhawks on Oct. 12 and travel to Southeast Missouri on Oct. 19.
The Lions have allowed an ASUN-low three goals this season. They have not had a match this year in which they have yielded more than one score. UNA keeper Madison Vukas leads the league with a 0.43 goals against average, a .929 save percentage and four shutouts.
Offensively, Alice Bussey is the club leader with three goals and seven points. The 5-foot-8 graduate student out of Hythe, England missed all of last season due to an injury, but had a banner 2023 campaign on the way to an All-ASUN first-team accolade.
Inside the series
Sunday's meeting between the two schools will mark the fifth matchup in the all-time series. The Golden Eagles lead the set 3-1, which includes a 2-1 OT triumph in Florence on Sept. 6, 2019 in the last gathering between the two programs.
Photo: Jeff Bowe, TTU Media Relations
