By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Early-season drama took center stage at Tech Soccer Field Friday afternoon, but the Golden Eagles were unable to scratch across their first win of the season, falling 3-2 in double overtime to Alabama State. Both squads erased one-goal deficits in the exhilarating battle, before the Hornets (2-1-0) used a score in extra time by freshman Aaliyah Lewis to put a lid on the exciting, seesaw match.
Tech (0-3-0) had its opportunities throughout the course of over 105 minutes of action, most notably a golden chance in the second extra period by senior Ellie Iaciofano. The electric forward from Loveland, Ohio slipped through the back of the Alabama State defense, finding herself in a break away with just the keeper to beat.
A strong attempt by Iaciofano just clipped off the fingertips of Hornets junior goalkeeper Kylee Hathaway, forcing the ball wide left. Iaciofano would finish her day with seven shots, four of which were on-goal, just two behind the aforementioned Lewis in the shots-on-goal department.
The key Hathaway save was one of nine for the Pomona, Calif. native, helping set the stage for Lewis' heroics.
Lewis had previously unwrapped the scoring with a 35th minute goal, behind an assist from freshman Ally Murphy. The Golden Eagles wasted little time in responding though, as senior Jessica Wilson notched her first goal of the season after an Iaciofano shot was deflected right back to the Cookeville native who took care of the rest. Iaciofano and junior Kelsey McGohan picked up their first assists of the year on the play.
Things stayed knotted up at 1-1 into intermission, before Tech kicked off the second half scoring in the 53rd minute. Junior Amanda Koch recorded her first goal of the 2013 campaign, taking a cross from senior Taylor Hicks and burying it in the back of the net in front of a jubilant and crowded Tech Soccer Field.
The 2-1 lead appeared to be in good hands thanks to another solid performance by sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Brown and her seven saves, but the Hornets came through with an equalizing score in the 77th minute. Junior forward Alexandria Cannon picked up a rebound off the post, before splitting the pipes to deadlock the match.
Cannon would go on to have a pair of near-winners in the first overtime, smacking one off the post midway through the first extra frame, prior to another rip and a Brown save just a few moments later.
The Golden Eagles had their own issues with the post, including an Iaciofano rip off the hands of Hathaway that nicked off the iron, followed up by freshman Abi Gearing's attempt that was knocked away by Hathaway that would have given Tech a 3-1 lead a third of the way into the second stanza.
The Golden Eagles outshot the Hornets 22-14 and 11-10 in shots-on-goal.
Tech will hit the road for their next four matches, starting things off with their first official road affair this Sunday at Northern Kentucky. The tilt is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CDT.
