By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team rallied from a one-goal deficit on the way to a 1-1 draw with Eastern Kentucky in the spring finale Tuesday night at Tech Soccer Field. The Golden Eagles and Colonels both carded their first tie of the season, closing out the spring with identical 4-5-1 records.
TTU ends the spring with an OVC-lowest seven goals allowed in 10 matches. The Golden Eagles are the only team in the league to not allow more than one score in a contest this season.
Trailing 1-0 after EKU split the pipes on a corner in the 25th minute, Tech responded early in the second half on a corner of its own. Chloe Smith lined up an attempt in the 50th minute, and after an initial Golden Eagle try amid heavy traffic went begging, Bailey Taylor provided the equalizer with a drive into the back of the net that locked the score at 1-1.
Taylor's take was one of three shots for the 5-foot-6 sophomore, knotting herself with Chloe Smith, Yao Giada Zhou, Gabby Garcia and Selma Askildsen for the most by a Golden Eagle. Smith and Askildsen's attempts were all on-goal.
Squared away at 1-1 into overtime, the Golden Eagles nearly powered home the game winner on another Taylor try with just over 20 seconds left in the first extra session. A Chloe Smith shot was deflected by EKU keeper Billie Clark and right toward Taylor, but the Powell, Tenn. product missed just wide to keep the contest preserved at 1-1.
The Golden Eagles outshot EKU, 4-1, in the first OT, while the Colonels held a 3-2 edge in the second overtime. Overall, the Colonels held a 21-20 shot advantage in the match. Audrey Anderson led the affair with six shots, three of which were on-frame.
Eastern Kentucky jumped on the board in the 25th minute, breaking the scoreless deadlock on an Ali Kirk net-finder. The Cincinnati, Ohio native took advantage of a Michaela Iacono corner that drifted to Kirk, who promptly took care of the rest to give EKU the early edge.
Isabelle Austin wrapped up her spring campaign by matching a career-high with 10 saves. Billie Clark secured seven stops across the way.
Playing in her final match as a Golden Eagle, senior Katie Bain Lancaster notched 54 minutes on the pitch.
Photo by Jim Dillon
