Tech soccer tops EIU to cap off historic OVC four-peat
It was a historical Sunday for the Tennessee Tech soccer team in the club’s regular-season finale against Eastern Illinois.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
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0 | 0 | 0 |
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1 | 1 | 2 |
Team Stats
Eastern Illinois
| Game Statistics | Eastern Illinois | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 6 (4) | 19 (5) |
| Saves | 3 | 4 |
| Fouls | 9 | 7 |
| Corner Kicks | 1 | 2 |
| Offsides | 0 | 2 |
By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a historical Sunday for the Tennessee Tech soccer team in the club's regular-season finale against Eastern Illinois.
The Golden Eagles scored in each half on the way to a 2-0 win over the Panthers to clinch the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship for the fourth-consecutive year. Tech officially hoists the crown outright after Little Rock and Lindenwood's tilt ended in a 1-1 draw to push the purple and gold to 21 conference points. Little Rock finished the regular season with 19 points.
Tech's title puts the Golden Eagles in rarified air as only the second program in OVC history to claim a regular-season four-peat. Samford secured four championships in a row from 2003-06. The Golden Eagles have now won five regular-season crowns in program history.
In TTU's final year in the league, Tech will receive a double bye and the No. 1 seed in the OVC Tournament. The Golden Eagles earn the right to host the tourney semifinals and championship match for the fourth-consecutive year.
Tech (6-6-7, 6-0-3 OVC) joins Little Rock, who posted a 5-0-4 OVC mark, as the first teams to cap off an undefeated conference campaign since the Golden Eagles accomplished the feat in 2022. TTU also tied the 2023 and 2017 Golden Eagle clubs for the program's longest unbeaten streak, now at nine straight.
Tech jumped on the board in the 16th minute behind Natalie Howard's team-leading seventh goal of the season. The sophomore forward received a cross from Katie Toney before promptly burying the chance to push the Golden Eagles to a 1-0 edge.
Toney, who earned an assist on the play, would go on to score her fifth goal of the season in the 55th minute to extend Tech's lead to 2-0 early in the second half. The McMinnville, Tenn. native capped off a three-point afternoon after capitalizing on a loose ball in front of the net for her fifth goal of the season and 21st of her career.
Toney ended the regular season with a goal in four of the last five matches. The senior forward led all players in the contest with a career-high seven shots.
Defensively, Tech collected its third-consecutive clean sheet in limiting the Panthers to just six shots. EIU (8-7-3, 5-3-1) attempted only one shot in the first half.
Senior keeper Maggie Conrad tallied four stops en route to her 22nd career blanking. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa product also broke the tie with Carly King (2001-04) for the second-most career wins in program history with her 29th victory.
EIU keeper Ella Kratocvhil collected three saves. Six different Panthers accounted for the team's six shots.
The Golden Eagles will enjoy a double-bye before hosting the OVC Tournament semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Photo | Jim Dillon
