By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With half of the 10-match conference slate now in the rearview mirror, the Tennessee Tech soccer team is ready to launch into the final five OVC matches, beginning with a pair of crucial weekend tilts. On Friday, the Golden Eagles host Southeast Missouri at 3 p.m. CT, before jumping back on the road for a Sunday contest at UT Martin, starting at 1 p.m.
Friday's match will be broadcast live on the Golden Eagle Sports Network via the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network. Click here to watch.
Tech (6-5-3, 2-1-1) returns to Cookeville following its longest road trip in two years, a three-match swing that saw the Golden Eagles go 0-1-2. The stretch's finale pitted TTU against one of two remaining undefeated conference squads in Austin Peay on Oct. 9, a match that ended in a scoreless draw.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kari Naerdemann tabbed her sixth shutout of the season behind seven saves, her third highest output of the season. Overall, the Herne, Germany native helps anchor one of the stingiest defenses in the OVC as Tech sits atop the conference in goals allowed (11), goals against average (0.74) and is third in shutouts (6). Naerdemann is also the league's leader with an impressive .843 save percentage.
Offensively, junior Karigan Owens still holds the OVC's top spot with seven assists, while the 5-foot-9 junior is tied for fourth in the conference with 13 points. Senior Abi Gearing sits in a tie for fourth in the conference with five goals.
Southeast Missouri (7-4-4, 1-2-3) heads to Cookeville having played four consecutive double overtime matches, collecting three ties and a loss during that span. SEMO's 18 goals in 15 matches place the Redhawks in a tie for third in the OVC in goals scored, using a conference-leading 10 from senior Natasha Minor to help pave the way.
Southeast Missouri leads the all-time series, 13-5-2, which includes a 2-0 win that ended Tech's season in last year's OVC Tournament semifinals. The two clubs played to a scoreless knot in Cape Girardeau during the regular season.
UT Martin (4-10-0, 1-5-0) registered its first OVC win of the season in its last match, a 2-1 overtime nod against Jacksonville State on Oct. 9. Sophomore Amy McGivern buried her fourth goal of the season to cap the dramatic tilt, helping lead the Ballynahinch, Northern Ireland native to this week's Co-OVC Offensive Player of the Week award.
McGivern is deadlocked with senior Saphyra Coombs-James for the most scores on the squad, while McGivern's two assists gives her a team-best 10 points.
The Skyhawks have the edge in the all-time series with TTU, 11-8-1, earning the 11th victory in the set with a 2-1 win in Cookeville last year.
UTM will host Eastern Kentucky Friday night before Sunday's 1 p.m. battle with Tech.
Photo by Jim Dillon
