By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the 2014 season heading toward the finish line, the Tennessee Tech soccer team prepares for a big weekend of home action as the Golden Eagles (2-12-2, 0-5-2) host Southeast Missouri on Friday, before welcoming in SIU Edwardsville on Sunday. Friday's match is set to begin at 3 p.m. CT, while Sunday's affair is Tech's Senior Day with action slated to kick off at 1 p.m. and a special pre-match ceremony honoring TTU's five seniors scheduled for 12:50.
Sunday's match with the Cougars (9-5-1, 6-1-0) will also be streamed live on the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network via the Golden Eagle Sports Network with Dylan Vazzano calling all the action. CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE.
The weekend marks the beginning of a season-ending, three-match home stand for TTU as the Golden Eagles return back to Tech Soccer Field after playing nine of the last 11 away from Cookeville.
"The last couple of home matches we had before we were on the road I thought we played pretty well," Tech head coach Steve Springthorpe said on the prospects of closing out the year in Tech's own backyard. "Of course playing at home is always much nicer than going on the road. The team is excited about it and we are playing three pretty good teams, so we'd definitely rather be playing them at home."
The Golden Eagles are also enjoying a slew of recent success, having earned hard-fought ties in two of their last three matches. On Oct. 11 in a home battle with Eastern Illinois, Tech's offense came out swinging to the tune of 32 shots in forcing a 2-2 tie with the Panthers, while in TTU's last match at Austin Peay on Sunday, it was the defense that stole the show in blanking the Governors through 110 minutes on the pitch in a double-overtime scoreless draw.
The match featured a big-time save from senior goalkeeper Rebecca Toler, who guided away an APSU penalty kick in the 38th minute to preserve the scoreless affair.
"We still have to a better job of finishing our chances, but the team is definitely playing relatively well of late and I'm glad we were able to get two ties out of the last three matches," Springthorpe said on the recent stretch. "We've been up to the challenge of defending harder and winning more balls. I also think we've been putting ourselves out there a little more than we did earlier in the season. I'm happy with the effort we've been giving of late."
Friday's match will feature a hot SEMO (8-5-0, 5-2-0) team, one that is riding a three-match win streak into Cookeville. The Redhawks also enter Tech Soccer Field with some recent hardware, thanks to a pair of OVC honors handed down on Tuesday, with senior Breana Beine taking home Co-Offensive Player of the Week recognition and freshman Kindra Lierz earning the conference's Goalkeeper of the Week award.
Beine scored two goals and added an assist in a pair of victories over Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 17 and Morehead State on Oct. 19. The 5-foot-6 forward is now tops on the Redhawks with seven goals, three of which have been game-winners. As far as Lierz is concerned, the Springfield, Mo. native allowed just one combined goal in the two tilts, recording a career-high 10 saves in Sunday's 2-1 win over Morehead State. She now leads the conference in goals-against average (0.77) and is tied for the lead in shutouts with six.
SEMO leads the all-time series 11-5-1, capturing the last three contests.
Before SIUE makes the trek to Cookeville to close out a string of four-straight on the road, the Cougars will head to Jacksonville State on Friday to square off the Gamecocks. Edwardsville is currently the leader in the clubhouse with a 6-1 conference record in the OVC, having just taken care of business in Kentucky with victories at Morehead State on Oct. 17 and Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 19.
Cougar sophomore Jorie Clawson was just named the OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after playing a pivotal role in an SIUE defense that gave up just two goals in the pair of wins, with the St. Charles, Mo. native also recording an assist at Eastern Kentucky for her first points of the season. From an offensive perspective, senior Michelle Auer has set the Edwardsville pace with a club-leading six goals and 16 points.
Tech and SIUE have split the all-time series with both teams each claiming two victories. The Golden Eagles have recent bragging rights though thanks to a 1-0 road victory in last season's meeting.
Sunday's match marks TTU's annual Senior Day as the Golden Eagles will say goodbye to Rebecca Toler, Amanda Koch, Hayley Morton, Katie Phillips, Kelsey McGohan, and team manager Chelsea Ladd.
"The seniors have put a lot of time and effort into the program," Springthorpe said. "Even sometimes when the wins haven't necessarily been there, their time and effort always have and they have played hard for their university. They have done the right things on and off the field. You always want your seniors to lead your group, specifically in their last year, and all five of our seniors have provided leadership in one way or another, whether it's been vocally or by their play on the field. I'm happy with the effort they have given to the program."
Admission to both weekend matches is free of charge.
