CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team found itself in the middle of a defensive battle Sunday afternoon, playing Western Carolina to a stalemate for 77 minutes before the Catamounts nabbed a late goal to take the win.
Both teams struggled to put up shots in the first half, with WCU edging the Golden Eagles 3-2, including a 2-0 nothing advantage in the shots-on-goal department. Freshman goalkeeper Jordan Brown managed two saves in the first half, the most impressive one coming off a Catamount penalty kick in the 15th minute.
Tech attempted eight first-half corner kicks, but was unable to translate any of them into shots-on-goal thanks to a strong defensive effort by Western Carolina. WCU attempted five corners of its own, however the team was also unable to turn it into an offensive attack.
The Golden Eagles came out strong defensively to start the second half, but the Catamounts halftime adjustments proved to be just good enough as they snuck in a goal off a corner kick in the 77th minute. WCU managed a last-minute save off an Amanda Koch shot attempt to hold off Tech and earn its third win of the season.
Brown finished with four saves for the Golden Eagles, giving her 50 on the season and putting her among the top goalkeepers in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Five players for Tech recorded a full 90 minutes of action, including junior defender Katie Phillips, who joins Brown as the only Tech players to have played every minute this season. Joining Brown and Phillips with 90 minutes of play were fellow juniors Taylor Hicks and Ellie Iaciofano and seniors Kerri Reid and Julie Thompson.
The Golden Eagles will return to play for their final non-OVC match-up on Monday, Sept. 17 when they travel to Nashville, Tenn. for a 7 p.m. CT tilt against Lipscomb.
Tech will open its OVC schedule at home on Sept. 23 against Jacksonville State.