By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – North Alabama spoiled the Tennessee Tech soccer team's bid at a perfect home stand as the Lions scored twice in each half en route to a 4-0 victory Sunday evening. The Golden Eagles were shutout for the first time this season after a scoring a combined four goals over the first three matches of the year.
The loss marks the first defeat at home for Tech since Sept. 4, 2016, a string of 15 straight matches in Cookeville without a loss.
The Golden Eagles (2-2-0) did manage to set a new season high with 12 shots, the second-consecutive match with double-digit shots after registering 10 attempts in Friday's 2-1 win over ETSU. Cassidy Bereda, Rachel Blow, Viviana Lomeli and Tina Marolt all recorded two shots to pace the TTU attack. North Alabama tallied 14 shots, eight of which were on-goal.
Kylie Huey paved the way for UNA behind a five-point showing that included a pair of goals and an assist, while the 5-foot-8 senior forward also led all players in the match with nine shots and five shots on-goal.
Huey unwrapped the scoring for the Lions (4-0-0) with a goal in the 17th minute that saw the Arlington, Tenn. native stall on her first two tries thanks to a pair of impressive, point blank Kari Naerdemann saves, but after gathering a second-straight rebound Huey found a way to split the pipes. Tay Cavett carded an assist on the goal after feeding Huey.
Cavett would do the honors in UNA's second goal, finding the back of the net in the 28th minute courtesy of a shot from the top right of the box. Huey was credited with an assist on Cavett's strike that padded the Lion lead.
In the 51st minute Huey was at it again, scoring off of a rebound after a Shelby Wall shot on-goal was initially deflected away by Naredemann. Wall, who earned an assist on the play, would go on to cap the UNA scoring with a goal in the 72nd minute after receiving a pass from Margarida Sousa, who was credited with an assist on the final Lion goal.
Kari Naerdemann made four saves in the match in nearly 72 minutes of action. Red-shirt sophomore Isabelle Austin came in for the final 18 minutes and change, her first regular-season action in her TTU career. UNA's Shelby Thornton secured the shutout with four saves in the contest.
The Golden Eagles will head back on the road for a pair of weekend contests up north. Tech will be at Evansville Friday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. CT before traveling to Purdue Fort Wayne for a noon first kick on Sunday.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
