MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Nine different Golden Eagles had at least one point Friday night as the Tennessee Tech soccer team matched its all-time record for goals in a match, beating a shorthanded Alabama State squad 7-0.

“Picking up our first victory was needed,” Tech head coach Becky Fletcher said. “We’ve been right there, and the girls put in the hard work and deserved to win.”

Freshman Andrea Meloff scored two goals on just two shots in the match, and fellow freshmen Sarah Gawthrop and Kris Cambron also put balls in the back of the net. Juniors Jen Hoffman, Brooke Mayo and Michelle Decker also joined in on the scoring.

“We had some different positions scoring goals, it didn’t just come from out front line, which is exciting,” Fletcher said. “Nobody was playing selfish, they were all passing the ball, and moving the ball well.”

Cambron added an assist, along with freshman Julie Thompson, and juniors Taren Brown and Kathryn Lally. Freshman Jacquie Watkins finished the match with nine shots, including seven on goal.15 different Golden Eagles had at least one shot in the match.

The Golden Eagles were just one shot shy of tying their all-time mark for shots in a match, finishing with 40 shots on Friday. With Alabama State able to put just nine players on the field, the match was stopped short in the 73rd minute.

Meanwhile, all 22 healthy Golden Eagles saw action for Tech, including redshirt-freshman Krista Kaump. Kaump sat out the 2008 season with a medical-redshirt, and missed the first three games of 2009 with an injury before making her debut Friday. She finished the match with four shots, including two on goal.

“Krista practiced all week, and we’re real excited to get her on the field,” Fletcher said. “She has worked so hard to get back, she’s been really patient and I know it’s been frustrating for her at times. She came close to scoring a couple times tonight and she got better every time she stepped out on the field.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Kaitlyn Thacker and freshman Megan Polk split the shutout. Thacker played the entire first half, and made two saves, while Polk played the second half.

Alabama State goalkeeper Chelsea Nash had nine saves Friday, while Veronique Lamontagne had five stops for the Hornets. All four of ASU’s shots came from Monique Sylvester.

Tech improves to 1-3-0 in 2009, while ASU falls to 0-3-0.

The Golden Eagles will stay in the state of Alabama to take on defending Southland Conference champion Texas State on a neutral field in Birmingham, Ala. on Sunday. Texas State finished 13-4-4 in 2008. The Bobcats enter Sunday’s match at 1-3-0 in 2009. All three of their losses have been by a one-goal margin.

“We definitely have a lot of respect for their program,” Fletcher said. “They’ve accomplished a lot of great things. I know that they are a very quality team. We are going to have to come in and stay focused for the entire 90 minutes to be able to compete.”

The match kicks off at 11 a.m., and is hosted by former Ohio Valley Conference member  Samford. Fans can follow all of Sunday’s action on Game Tracker by visiting samfordsports.com and clicking the GT link on the events calendar.

The Golden Eagles will be on the road for the next two weekends before returning home to open up OVC play against UT Martin on Sept. 25. Admission to all home soccer matches is free.