COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team will travel to Nashville, Tenn. on Monday to conclude its non-conference schedule against the Lady Bisons of Lipscomb in a 7 p.m. CT tilt.
The Golden Eagles are coming off an extended week of rest, not having seen action since September 9. Tech dropped a 1-0 decision against Western Carolina in its last contest, despite holding the Catamounts scoreless for 77 minutes.
"It's an extended week this for us, coming off of a disappointing weekend against MTSU and Western Carolina," said head coach Daniel Brizard. "WCU was just a good match between two good teams and with MTSU, I think we took the loss of Leigh a little harder than we expected."
The Golden Eagles will look to Ellie Iaciofano, a junior forward for Tech, to continue her hot play. She has scored four goals in her last four contests and leads the Golden Eagles with five goals and 11 points, which were both good for tops in the Ohio Valley Conference heading into the weekend.
Tech will also rely on the grit and determination that freshman goalkeeper Jordan Brown has provided so far through the season. Brown, who has racked up 49 saves so far this season, leads the OVC in stops and will look to continue to her development heading into the OVC schedule.
"I think this is the point where we all have to get on the same page as we get ready for our conference season," said Brizard. "I think a win would be fantastic to gain some momentum going into conference play. I think all the teams we have played so far, beside Mizzou, are at our conference level. I think we have had one of the hardest schedules in the OVC this season."
Tech will begin its OVC schedule on Sunday, Sept. 23 when it hosts Jacksonville State at 1 p.m. CT at the Tech Soccer Field. The match-up will be Tech's annual Think Pink match in honor of breast cancer awareness. The team will be tossing out t-shirts at the match as well as taking donations for breast cancer awareness.
Scouting Lipscomb
- Lipscomb sits at 2-4-2 on the season following Friday's 1-0 loss to Alabama State.
- The Lady Bisons are 1-1 against OVC opponents this fall, and also lost an exhibition to Belmont.
- The match will mark the seventh in history between the two schools with TTU holding a 6-0 advantage in the previous six meetings.
- Lipscomb has scored just one goal against Tech since the two schools started meeting in 2000.
- Molly Bray leads the Lady Bisons with three goals and six points on the season.
- Goalkeeper Erin Zerio has recorded 45 saves in 760 minutes played while allowing 11 goals on the season.
Daniel Brizard on the Lady Bisons
"They're going to be a quality team, no different than what we've already faced to this point in the season. They have a new coach, so we'll expect some different things from them formation- wise, style-wise, and with effort. We're going to expect a battle at their place underneath the lights. It's going to be a good game and one that I feel if we do everything we are supposed to do, we should win."
