OVC Tournament Notes (PDF)
OVC Tournament Bracket (PDF)

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- For the second consecutive season the Tennessee Tech soccer team is heading to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The Golden Eagles earned the No. 4 seed in the six-team tournament, and will face No. 5 Eastern Illinois in the first round on Thursday at 4 p.m. Central in Morehead, Ky.

"EIU is a talented team. I think they're very well coached and they have a great spirit," Tennessee Tech Head Coach  Becky Fletcher said. "Last year they struggled, and Summer Perala, in her first year, has changed that whole team's attitude. You can tell that team is excited about being on the field. They're energetic. She's done a really good job, and you can tell by the way those girls fight tooth-and-nail. We're going to have to match their passion."

The Golden Eagles and Panthers battled to a 2-2 tie in muddy conditions in Charleston, Ill., earlier this season. Both teams finished with 3-3-2 records in OVC play. Tech and EIU have gone to overtime in their last two meetings.

"I think that with having a draw with a team, you feel like there is unfinished business," Fletcher said. "You were so close yet there was no result. A tie is better than a loss but you still want to get over that hump."

The Golden Eagles are heading into their second consecutive OVC tournament, and sixth in the 11-year history of the tournament. Tech was the No. 5 seed and lost in the first round of last year's OVC tournament to UT Martin. The Golden Eagles finished the season at 5-11-3.

"The goal was to each year exceed the standards from the previous year," Fletcher said. "We wanted to finish with a higher seed than we did last year, which we did, but our goal is still to win a conference championship. That is everybody's goal in this league. We took a step forward, but now it's anybody's ball game."

Morehead State and UT Martin shared the regular-season title with the Eagles earning the top seed and the right to host the three-day event while the Skyhawks are the second seed. Murray State is the third seed followed by Tennessee Tech, Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky.

The first-round of the tourney takes place on Thursday, Nov 5 with Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois playing at 4 p.m. Central followed by Murray State and Eastern Kentucky at 7:00 p.m. Central.
 
As the top two seeds, Morehead State and UT Martin earned first-round byes. The Semifinals will be held on Friday, Nov. 6 and the championship taking place on Sunday, Nov. 8.

"I think they know now that this is the third part of your season. It's one game for all the marbles. If you lose you're done, if you win, you advance. It's an exciting experience for them. They're going to really see everything come to fruition."

2009 Ohio Valley Conference Soccer Tournament Schedule - Morehead, Ky.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 - FIRST ROUND

#4 Tennessee Tech vs. #5 Eastern Illinois - 4:00 p.m.

#3 Murray State vs. #6 Eastern Kentucky - 7:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 - SEMIFINALS

#1 Morehead State vs. Winner of #4 Tennessee Tech/#5 Eastern Illinois - 4:00
p.m.

#2 UT Martin vs. Winner of #3 Murray State/#6 Eastern Kentucky - 7:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 - CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship - 12:00 p.m.

ALL TIMES CENTRAL