By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The lights get just a tad brighter around this time of year as the Tennessee Tech soccer team leaps into the most compelling part of its season with the start of Ohio Valley Conference play. The Golden Eagles (4-4-1) begin the 10-match voyage right here in Cookeville with a pair of weekend matches, first Friday against Jacksonville State at 3 p.m. CT, before Belmont comes to town Sunday at 7 p.m.
Both matches will be broadcast live on the Golden Eagle Sports Network via the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network. Click here to watch.
Tech starts the conference clad slate with lofty expectations after the Golden Eagles were selected third in the preseason predicted order of finish following last year's success. The 2015 squad finished second in the OVC, the highest ending in 15 years, behind the most conference wins in a season in program history. In fact, the captivating run through OVC action kicked off with back-to-back road wins over Belmont and Jacksonville State to push the club to its first 2-0 conference beginning since 2005.
This year's version of the Golden Eagles enters the conference opener following a pair of 1-0 losses in a weekend road trip that shut the lid on non-conference play. Tech was upended at Radford on Friday, Sep. 16, prior to a double-overtime loss at Western Carolina on Sunday.
TTU's stingy defense continues to pave the way throughout the year, a season after the Golden Eagles paced the conference in goals allowed (17) and goals against average (0.83). This season's group sits in third in goals allowed with only eight in nine matches, while Tech is second in both goals against average (0.85) and shutouts (4).
Sophomore goalkeeper Kari Naerdemann, the reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year, ranks in the top three in the conference goals against average (0.85), saves (41), shutouts (4) and save percentage (.837). Overall, the Herne, Germany native has tallied 11 career shutouts in her year and a half with the program, already the second most in Tennessee Tech history.
Offensively, junior Karigan Owens is the OVC leader with six assists, holding a firm grasp atop the leader board as no other player in the league has as many as three. Owens is also third in the conference with 10 points while senior Abi Gearing is tied for third with four goals.
Picked fifth in the preseason predicted order of finish, Jacksonville State (3-5-1) has won two of its last three matches with a pair of 2-1 wins over The Citadel on Sep. 18 and Jackson State on Sep. 9. The Gamecock defense has allowed more than one goal in just one of their nine matches this season, and the club was recently awarded for their efforts as senior defender Justine Panchuk was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week, receiving the honor Tuesday afternoon.
Panchuk scored the game tying goal in the 59th minute in JSU's last match against The Citadel while also aiding in a unit that surrendered only one Bulldog shot in the second half. Panchuk is one of seven Gamecocks that have scored this season, led by freshman Nadia Plawiuk's two. Overall, Jacksonville State has scored eight goals in nine matches.
JSU leads the all-time series with TTU, 7-4-4.
Before taking the brief trip down I-40, Belmont will play host to Eastern Kentucky Friday evening as the Bruins (1-4-3) search for their second win of 2016 after being picked ninth in the preseason predicted order of finish. Belmont's offense has produced six goals in eight matches this season with junior Belicia Mendiola accounting for half of the club's scores.
The Bruins hold the edge in the all-time series with Tech, 9-5-2.
Admission to all Tech home regular season matches is free of charge.
Photo by Jim Dillon
