By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
TROY, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team put a second check mark in the tie column, as the Golden Eagles played Troy to a scoreless draw in the final match of the Trojan Classic Sunday afternoon.
Tech (0-0-2), who opened up the 2019 campaign with a 2-2 deadlock with South Alabama Friday evening, outshot the Trojans 13-6, highlighted by an 11-2 discrepancy after intermission. Troy (1-0-) managed one shot on-goal after the break, a Kate Lorenz attempt nearly midway into the second overtime that was halted by Isabelle Austin.
"Today was your typical hard fought, second match of the weekend kind of a game where you saw some fatigue at times, but I am certainly pleased with the way we played this afternoon," TTU head coach Steve Springthorpe said. "I thought especially in the second half and both overtimes we put together better opportunities and had some chances to put one in the back of the net. Obviously we would have loved to come out of today with a win, but to get another tie on the road is something we can feel good about and build off of going forward."
Tech's first clean sheet of the season saw Isabelle Austin register three saves between the pipes for her first career shutout. The Golden Eagles have now gone nearly 180 minutes without allowing a goal after blanking South Alabama for the tilt's final 68 minutes Friday night.
"Organizationally we were definitely better today," Springthorpe said, on his club's defensive prowess against Troy. "The game against South Alabama we played a little too much individual defense and left some of our players out an island to fend for themselves. Today our shape and back line was better in supporting each other. We got more numbers around the ball. Some of our younger and less experienced players are continuing to find out how we want to play and you saw improvement in that regard. I'm happy with the maturity and growth of our team in the early going."
Junior Kendall Powell led the contest with five total shots, two of which were on-goal. Senior Nora Vicsek tallied three shots, while sophomore Cassidy Bereda was the only other Golden Eagle with more than one shot behind two attempts. Freshman Sarah Block and seniors Rachel Blow and Tina Marolt each had one try.
The Trojans, who were coming off a 7-0 win in their season opener Friday evening, were paced by Kendra Cashion's two shots. Troy outshot the Golden Eagles, 4-2, in the affair's first half.
"I thought the first half for the most part was pretty equal in terms of possession and opportunities," Springthorpe said. "We were patient in the attack early on and I was happy with the way we defended. Coming off what was kind of a weird start for us Friday against South Alabama, I thought today we played a very solid first half."
Troy goalkeeper Haleigh Mercer collected three stops in the contest.
16 Golden Eagles appeared in the match. Isabelle Austin, Rachel Blow, Kaitie Shipley and Kendall Webb played all 110 minutes. Nora Vicsek nearly went the distance with 107 minutes of action.
Tech will continue its five-match road trip to begin the year with two contests in Tempe, Ariz. over the weekend. The Golden Eagles will tangle with Arizona State on Friday, Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. CT, before closing out their stay out West Sunday, Sept. 1 against the University of Arizona at noon.
Photo by Thomas Corhern