Cuadra’s hat trick helps propel Tech to 6-1 victory over Western Illinois
The Tennessee Tech soccer team scored early and scored often as part of a dominating performance in a 6-1 victory over Western Illinois for Tech’s first win of the season.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 1 | 1 |
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5 | 1 | 6 |
Team Stats
Western Illinois
| Game Statistics | Western Illinois | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 3 (2) | 29 (20) |
| Saves | 14 | 1 |
| Fouls | 11 | 7 |
| Corner Kicks | 0 | 7 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team scored early and scored often as part of a dominating performance in a 6-1 victory over Western Illinois for Tech's first win of the season.
Lucia Cuadra stamped her name in the TTU record books with the program's ninth hat trick, becoming the sixth different Golden Eagle to find the back of the net three times in a single contest. TTU Sports Hall of Famer Jill Burns accomplished the feat four times throughout her Tech tenure. The hat trick was the first the Golden Eagle since Chloe Smith split the pipes three times in a 5-0 victory over Lindenwood in the OVC Tournament semifinals on Nov. 4, 2022.
Cuadra's race into the record books took place rapidly with all three scores occurring within an 11-and-a-half-minute span early in the first half. After Claire Palya scored on a corner 68 seconds into the match to give Tech the initial 1-0 edge, Cuadra went to work behind goals in the 9th, 15th and 20th minutes to tie the Golden Eagle individual record for scores in a match. The trio of goals were also the first three scores of the year for the graduate student out of Barcelona, Spain.
With Tech leading 4-0, Regan Smiley put the finishing touches on an explosive first half of Golden Eagle offense with her first goal of the year in the 29th-minute to cap off a five-goal first stanza. Smiley's score was the second of her career after first finding the back of the net as a freshman in 2022.
Tech (1-6-6, 1-0-2 OVC) continued its fireworks early in the second half thanks to an Allison Lee goal in the 49th minute for her first of the season and eighth in her career. The drive into the back of the net sealed the deal on a six-goal outburst to tie for the sixth-most goals in a single match in school history. The six goals were also the most for the program since splitting the pipes seven times in a 7-0 victory over Southern Indiana on Sept. 24, 2023.
Tech notched five different assists from five different Golden Eagles. Melina Hamm picked up the first helper of the afternoon with a corner that connected with Palya in the 2nd minute before Katie Toney and Natalie Howard each played a role in Cuardra's first goal in the 9th minute. Anna Baker collected her first career assist on Cuadra's last goal in the 20th minute on a lengthy over-the-top feed that fond Cuadra in the box. Cheyenne McCloud rounded out the five assists on Smiley's goal in the 29th minute.
The Leathernecks (1-12-0, 0-3-0 OVC) scored their lone goal at the tail end of the tilt thanks to a Claire Brown free kick that found the back of the net in the 87th minute.
Tech's 29 shots were a season-best and the most in a match since attempting 31 total tries in a 3-2 home victory over UT Martin on Oct. 12, 2023. Tori Soutuyo led the way with a career-high six bids.
The Golden Eagle defense set a season-low in shots allowed with only three WIU tries. Brown, Anaiya Morris and Perla Rios each took one attempt.
Senior keeper Maggie Conrad notched one save on the way to her 24th career win, while Ariel Bernard was kept busy with 14 stops.
With a third of the conference campaign now in the rearview mirror, the Golden Eagles will set their sights on a Sunday, Oct. 5 match at Lindenwood for the club's next contest. The affair will feature a battle between the defending OVC regular-season champion, Tech, and the defending OVC Tournament champ, Lindenwood. Kickoff in St. Charles, Mo. is slated for noon CT.
Photo: Jim Dillon
