By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Anchored by a stingy defense that surrendered only one shot on-goal, the Tennessee Tech soccer team came through swimmingly en route to a 2-0 shutout win over Belmont to move to 2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference action. The 2-0 beginning marks the second consecutive season that Tech has collected victories in its first two conference matches, rolling off 2-0 starts in back-to-back years for the first time since 2001-02.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles (6-4-1, 2-0-0) struck at the most opportune time in front of a packed house at Tech Soccer Field, scoring inside the final 10 minutes of each half to ensure their road to the finish line. TTU joins Eastern Kentucky and SIU Edwardsville as the only three schools to make it out of the first weekend of conference play at a perfect 2-0.
"It's always important to get a conference game and to start our conference season at 2-0," head coach Steve Springthorpe said on the rapid beginning. "Belmont is a quality team that is much improved from last year. I thought they played a great style of soccer and knocked it around out there. I think we have to give a ton of credit to our defense. They handled Belmont's formation pretty well and handled a lot of one v. one situations. Kudos goes out to our team defense and our back four as well."
Tech limited the Bruins (1-6-3, 0-2-0) to only one first half shot, a 41st minute attempt by freshman Grace Whalen that soared well over the net. In fact, the first Belmont shot didn't come until after the Golden Eagles had punctured the scoreboard with a 39th minute goal courtesy of freshman Kaitie Shipley, her first collegiate score in her first action on the pitch since Aug. 28.
Junior Michaella Keyes started the net-finder with a pass to senior Marissa Rouse, who then worked the ball into the box, before connecting with Shipley. The Barrie, Ont., Canada native took care of the rest with a missile into the top right corner to jump TTU ahead, 1-0, in what was only her second minute on the field after checking in moments earlier.
"Kaitie's been battling a little bit of an injury, but we were able to get her into the game tonight and she took full advantage of it right away," Springthorpe said. "She got behind the back line and stuck in a great goal. I know she's excited about her first goal and I know we are excited for her because everyone knows how hard she's been working to get back onto the field."
Tech protected its 1-0 lead into intermission to continue a trend that has seen the Golden Eagles blank an opponent in the first half in 10 of 11 matches this season.
Belmont outshot TTU 9-3 in the second stanza, but could not scratch anything across with only one shot on-goal in the final 45 minutes, a Brittany Coca try in the 83rd minute.
The Golden Eagles put things out of reach in the 81st minute, using an own goal to their advantage to extend the lead to 2-0. Senior Kalyn Purett worked hard in keeping the ball from dipping over the end line, before her crossing attempt banged off a Bruin and into the back of the net to essentially put the game out of reach with only nine minutes remaining in the contest.
Sophomore Kari Naerdemann registered her fifth shutout of the season and 12th of her career after making one save throughout the course of 90 minutes. Senior Stephanie Bukovec made one save as well.
After the successful weekend that saw Tech boost its home record to 4-1-1 this season, the Golden Eagles will now set their sights on a three-match road trip, their longest in two years. The trio of three-straight on the road begins Sunday, Oct. 2 at Morehead State.
"You want to protect your home and we were able to do that this weekend against two teams," Springthorpe said. "Hopefully that prepares us going forward in the conference season. We have to go to Morehead next and it's always tough to play there. It's a smaller pitch and they are a tough team physically and defensively that's well organized. We will work on preparing for them this week and go on the road and hopefully come away with a positive result."
Sunday's first kick is slated for noon CT.
Photo by Jim Dillon