By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A pair of Abi Gearing goals and a lights-out showing from between the pipes out of Kari Naerdemann served as the difference in the Tennessee Tech soccer team's season-opener as the Golden Eagles downed UNC Asheville, 2-0, under the lights at Greenwood Field. Friday's blanking marked the first season-opening shutout win since 2004.
A season after pacing Tech (1-0-0) in goals and points, Gearing decided to do her damage in the second half, scorching the net twice in the final stanza after the pair of clubs played to a scoreless deadlock in the first 45 minutes. The senior's season-opening heroics were made possible behind a duo of freshman as Victoria Breeden and Kaitie Shipley each collected assists in their collegiate debuts.
"For an opening game for both teams, it proved to be a good, hard-fought battle," TTU third-year head coach Steve Springthorpe claimed. "Both teams wanted to come out and play with intensity, and early on, that was clearly the case. We had some opportunities in the first half and then early on in the second, but once we were able to possess the ball more and play with a little more urgency, we were able to capitalize on our chances. Overall it was a good, quality win for our season opener. There are obviously things we need to improve on, but it's nice to start off the season in a positive way."
Sophomore Kari Naerdemann, the reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year, started 2016 off with a bang after halting three shots en route to securing her first shutout victory of the season. Naerdemann's blanking is already the eighth in her youthful career, moving her into third place on the all-time Tennessee Tech list.
Although Naerdemann was forced into making just three saves, thanks in large part to a strong defensive display by the Golden Eagles, the 5-foot-9 goalkeeper made a pair of halts that saw her go full extension into a leap to keep the Bulldogs (0-1-0) off the board.
"Kari played an excellent game tonight," Springthorpe said. "She had two different saves where the shots were going into the upper corners and basically flew up to smack them away. She controlled the pace of the game as well and made great distribution decisions. If it wasn't for Abi and her two goals, she probably would've been the player of the match."
Gearing's first score occurred in the 56th minute, soaring one from outside the box to jump Tech to a 1-0 advantage. Victoria Breeden, one of six Golden Eagles to play in all 90 minutes, recorded the assist on the play. Tech struck for insurance in the 77th minute on Gearing's second goal with Kaitie Shipley registering the assist to help put TTU ahead 2-0.
Gearing notched three of Tech's 14 shots, tying freshman Dani Shartouny for the most on the squad. Shartouny, who was one of five Golden Eagles to make their team debut, nearly put Tech up 1-0 after drilling one off the cross bar in the 32nd minute.
UNCA took six shots, four of which were provided by junior Caroline Houser. Bulldogs' goalkeeper Madeline Getz stopped six of eight shots that came her way.
TTU will look to make it a perfect trip in the Tar Heel State, traveling to UNC Greensboro on Sunday for a 12 p.m. CT tilt with the Spartans.
