By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Another surge of scores highlighted the Tennessee Tech soccer team's Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles put up a three-spot on the way to a 3-1 victory over Eastern Illinois to begin the month of October.
Tech's triumph pushes the club's current unbeaten streak to five straight, with the Golden Eagles (4-4-3, 3-0-0) outscoring their competition 18-4 over the five tilts. TTU has outscored its OVC opponents 13-1 en route to the perfect 3-0 beginning and the Golden Eagles have now run their unbeaten streak in conference regular-season matches to 17, dating back to the beginning of October 2021.
"We are excited to get this win today to get us to a 3-0 start in the OVC," Tech head coach Steve Springthorpe said. "I thought our team has played well over the last few games, and if you look at today, I like how we came out against a good EIU team that always brings their best against us. They are not only tough to play against, but they are tough to break down defensively. EIU is a team that does not give up many goals, so I think today we were fortunate to find the back of the net and did what we needed to do defensively to come away with a victory. It's been a good start to conference play, but we know there is a lot more in front of us and we have to head to a really good SIUE team at their place on Thursday."
Yao Giada Zhou, the reigning OVC Offensive Player of the Week, unwrapped the scoring in the ninth minute with her fourth goal of 2023. A free kick on the edge of the right side of the box was all the senior midfielder needed after she buried the set-piece chance on a low, twisting drive that snuck around EIU's wall and into the back of the net to put the purple and gold ahead 1-0.
The San Michele al Tagliamento, Italy native is now tied with Neve Renwick and Bailey Taylor for the team lead in scores, which is also tied for the most in the OVC.
Giada Zhou would be heard from later, helping Meredith Nye on a goal early in the second half to extend TTU's lead to 2-0. Giada Zhou's serve into the box connected with Nye in front of the net, before the Jackson, Tenn. product took care of the rest with a ball into the back of the cage in the 58th minute for her third score of the season and third goal in as many matches.
Katie Toney put the finishing touches on Tech's trio of scores thanks to her third goal of the year on a missile from well outside the box in the 66th minute. Toney's take saw the McMinnville, Tenn. native blast one from near the right corner flag and into the back of the net to put the Golden Eagles in the driver's seat with a 3-0 edge.
"Our front three and our midfield continues to create opportunities for us," Springthorpe said, on his club's offensive output of late. "Giada found the back of the net again, which is fantastic. She continues to play well, which is huge for us. Meredith's goal was great to see. She is playing forward a little bit more than maybe she has in the past and it's adding to what we can do offensively. Then you look at Katie and what she brings to the table. She's aggressive, she gets after it and she's not afraid to get in the box and find ways to create. The offensive is playing well and really our whole team is playing well."
The Panthers (2-6-3, 1-2-1 OVC) managed to get on the board in the waning moments of regulation behind an Abby Reinl goal in the 86th minute for EIU's only second-half attempt on-goal.
Overall, Tech outshot Eastern Illinois 23-10 for TTU's second-highest total of the year. Neve Renwick notched a match-leading seven tries to extend her season mark to 37, the highest amount in the OVC. The rookie forward has taken 24 shots in her last four matches. Carys Grieve and Avery Richardson led the Panthers with two attempts each.
Maggie Conrad posted three saves in the victory, while Ella Kratochvil stopped six Golden Eagle bids across the way.
With losses by Morehead State and SIUE on Sunday, the Golden Eagles head into the next match as the league's only undefeated team in conference play behind a 3-0-0 mark. Tech will travel to SIUE for a Thursday, Oct. 5 tangle in a rematch of last year's OVC Tournament championship final. Kickoff in Edwardsville, Ill. is set for 5 p.m. CT.
Photo by Jim Dillon
