By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team is back at it again, as the Golden Eagles prepare to play their fourth match in an eight-day period with a Thursday night meeting at Austin Peay on the books. Tech's tangle with the Govs is slated to start at 6 p.m. CT.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Click here to watch. Live stats will also be available. Click here to view.
A look at Tennessee Tech
Winners of three consecutive, all by one-score margins, the Golden Eagles (4-5-1, 3-2-0 OVC) enter Thursday's conference clash in Clarksville in a tie for second in the league behind nine points. After securing back-to-back double overtime nods with wins at UT Martin and against EIU, Tech continued its hot streak by ending Belmont's perfect OVC ledger with a 2-1 victory Tuesday night in Cookeville.
Squared away at 1-1 late in regulation, TTU broke the deadlock on a set-piece score that saw Chloe Smith connect with Emily Carlevato on a corner in the 69th minute. Carlevato headed in Smith's serve for her first career goal, while Smith's assist gave the Cincinnati, Ohio native a three-point showing after the Golden Eagle 5-foot-8 forward unwrapped the scoring with her second goal in as many matches in the 24th minute.
The reigning OVC Offensive Player of the Week now has six points over her last three matches with a pair of scores and a duo of assists. Smith's weekly accolade was one of three received for the purple and gold on Tuesday, as Tech swept the leagues' three honors for just the second time in program history.
Selma Askildsen secured her second career OVC Defensive Player of the Week award after playing in all 214 minutes in both double overtime nods and helping anchor a Tech defense that allowed just one score in the two matches combined. Isabelle Austin picked up her third career OVC Goalkeeper of the Week honor with seven combined saves in the pair of victories, which included her ninth career clean sheet in Sunday's 1-0 triumph over EIU.
Chloe Smith still leads the club with 24 shots, 11 of which have occurred over the last two matches. The TTU junior is tied with Bailey Taylor for the most goals on the team with two apiece.
A look at Austin Peay
The Governors (3-8-2, 0-4-0 OVC) are in search of their first OVC win of the year after the squad has been blanked in all four conference matches with losses to UT Martin, Belmont, Morehead State and SEMO. APSU's last goal was a ninth-minute score by Haley Patterson in a 1-1 draw against North Dakota on Sept. 23.
Patterson is one of six different Govs that has found the back of the net this season, with Claire Larose and Rachel Bradberry leading the Peay charge with two goals each. Alec Baumgardt is the only Governor with more than one assist behind two this season.
Peyton Powell has been the primary goalkeeper this year with 10 matches under her belt. The 5-foot-8 senior out of Franklin, Tenn. has yielded 10 goals and has made 35 halts for a 1.06 goals against average and a .778 save percentage. Chloe Dion has appeared in five matches in between the pipes and has surrendered nine goals with 26 saves for a 2.25 goals against average and a .743 save percentage.
Inside the series
The Golden Eagles hold a 12-5-2 edge in the all-time series, which includes back-to-back one-goal wins. Tech opened the 2020-21 spring season with a 1-0 nod in Clarksville on Mar. 2, using a Meredith Nye goal in the 32nd minute as the difference maker. Isabelle Austin needed just one save en route to the shutout.
Photo by Jim Dillon
