Penalty kick goal lifts Racers

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Shannon Rountree scored her first career goal Friday, but Tennessee Tech couldn't get past Murray State, falling 2-1 at Tech Soccer Field.

The Golden Eagles couldn't capitalize on several goal-scoring opportunities in the first half and, other than Rountree's goal, found those chances few and far between in the second period.

Already holding a 1-0 lead, Murray State was awarded a penalty kick in the 78^th minute and Sophie Hargreaves scored into the right side of the net, giving the Racers a 2-0 advantage that would hold up.

The Racers improved to 4-7-2 on the season while Tech fell to 4-11-1.

Though the Golden Eagles couldn't fight back from the 2-0 deficit, Tech did offer a quick retaliation to Hargreaves' penalty kick goal, scoring just over a minute later when the Murray State goalkeeper punched away a Taylor Hicks shot and Rountree booted the rebound into the back of the net.

The goal was the first for Rountree, a sophomore midfielder from Tamarac, Fla. Rountree has taken seven shots this season and put three on goal.

The Racers scored the first goal of the game in the 67^th minute when Julie Mooney drove a straight-on shot into the top of the Tech goal. 

Murray State outshot the Golden Eagles 16-10 and put 11 shots on goal compared to six for Tech. The Racers won six corner kicks while the Golden Eagles took one.

TTU goalkeeper Becca Toler notched nine saves on the afternoon while Murray State's Yi Du had three and Lauren Kelly notched two.

Ellie Iaciofano put two shots on goal for the Golden Eagles, who also got shots-on-goal from Rountree, Jacquie Watkins, Andrea Meloff and Taylor Hicks. Murray State's Julie Mooney took seven shots, all of which were on goal.

Tech will return to action on Sunday, hosting Austin Peay on Senior Day. The match is the final home match for the Golden Eagles this season and begins at 2 p.m. Senior defender Lindsey Reed, a four-year player, will be honored along with reserve goalkeeper Mary Gray Johnson and student assistant Krista Kaump.