Tech evens record, wins second straight on road at UNC Asheville

Tech evens record, wins second straight on road at UNC Asheville

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Tennessee Tech scored three first-half goals en route to a 4-1 victory over UNC Asheville Sunday, the second consecutive win for the Golden Eagles.

Tech, which defeated East Tennessee State 2-1 on Friday, is now an even 2-2 on the season and a perfect 2-0 on the road.

Junior midfielder Kerri Reid opened the scoring for the Golden Eagles in the 11th minute of Sunday's game, scoring on a header off a Kris Cambron corner kick. Cambron was credited with the assist. The goal was the second of the season for Reid, who scored Tech's first goal of the year against Chattanooga on Aug. 19.

Junior midfielder Jacquie Watkins extended the lead to 2-0 in the 19th minute, scoring her first goal of the season on a breakaway off an assist from Andrea Meloff.

At the 25-minute mark, sophomore Taylor Hicks gave Tech a commanding 3-0 lead when she delivered a corner kick directly into the Bulldog goal, joining Watkins in notching her first goal of the season.

The Golden Eagles wasted little time in adding to their lead in the second half as Watkins netted her second goal of the day in the 50th minute, scoring on a breakaway off a feed from Ellie Iaciofano.

Tech narrowly missed two more scoring opportunities in the second half on shots from Sarah Gawthrop in the 57th minute and Iaciofano in the 86th minute, both of which hit the crossbar.

UNC Asheville scored its only goal of the afternoon on a Kaitlyn Eckert penalty kick in the 67th minute.

Sophomore goalkeeper Becca Toler picked up her second consecutive win, playing all 90 minutes and saving five of six Asheville shots on goal.

Tech outshot the Bulldogs 17-13 and managed 10 shots on goal compared to six for UNC Asheville. Four different Golden Eagles posted two shots on goal – Watkins, Meloff, Hicks and Reid. Also notching shots on goal were Iaciofano and midfielder Jessica Wilson.

UNC Asheville goalie Heather Muller notched six saves in 90 minutes of play.

The Golden Eagles will look to pull above .500 for the first time in the Daniel Brizard era on Friday when they battle Louisiana Tech at 5 p.m. at the Jacksonville State Tournament in Jacksonville, Ala.