By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team will put its undefeated conference record on the line over the weekend, traveling up north for a pair of critical OVC matches. On Friday, the Golden Eagles (5-4-3, 3-0-0) head to Eastern Illinois to tangle with the Panthers (2-9-2, 0-3-1) at 3 p.m. CT, before closing out the two-match road swing with a 1 p.m. Sunday showdown at SIUE (4-6-3, 1-2-1).
For the third time in program history, and first since 2000, Tech has started its conference campaign with a 3-0 record after rolling past Eastern Kentucky in the club's last action on Oct. 2, making the Golden Eagles unbeaten in eight of their last nine matches. Tech racked up a season-high three goals as part of a 3-0 victory in Friday's tilt with the Colonels, despite having to navigate through sturdy rainfall and muddy field conditions.
The match featured scores from three different Golden Eagles as junior Abi Gearing and sophomores Karigan Owens and Cassidy Ortman each found the back of the net. Gearing and Ortman head into Friday's affair with goals in consecutive matches, while Owens has had at least one point in four-straight tilts (three assists, one goal).
Overall, TTU has seen eight different players score this season, headlined by Gearing, Ortman, sophomore Mary Francis Hoots, and junior Kalyn Pruett, who each have collected two goals on the year. Sophomore Zoie Hensely leads the club with four assists, a mark that puts the Ranchos de Taos, N.M. native in a tie for first in the OVC.
Defensively, Friday's blanking of EKU was Tech's fourth shutout of the season, tying the Golden Eagles for third in the conference. TTU's 11 goals surrendered in 12 matches this season puts the club in second in the conference in goals allowed, while Tech's 0.84 goals against average is also good enough for second place.
Freshman goalkeeper Kari Naerdemann, who made seven stops en route to her fourth career shutout Friday, is still tops in the OVC with an impressive .863 save-percentage.
Eastern Illinois is searching for its first OVC win of the season, entering Friday's match against Tech winless in its last four tilts. Senior Molly Hawkins has proven to be a force to be reckoned with this year, pacing the Panthers with seven goals, a mark that puts the Evansville, Ind. native in second in the conference in goals scored.
EIU leads the all-time series, 16-4-5.
In the midst of five-straight at home, SIUE will host Morehead State on Friday before welcoming in the Golden Eagles on Sunday. The Cougars have made their living on defense this season, leading the OVC in both goals allowed (9) and goals against average (0.63). Senior goalkeeper Jennifer Pelley anchors the club defensively with an .836 save percentage, trailing only Kari Naerdemann for the best in the conference.
SIUE has a narrow edge in the all-time series, capturing three of the previous five meetings.
