By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team wrapped up its non conference slate with the club's third draw of the year, as the Golden Eagles (2-4-3) and Chattanooga played their way to a 1-1 tie among an overcast and windy Sunday afternoon at Tech Soccer Field.
The double-overtime affair marked the fifth time this season, and fourth in the last five matches, that Tech has played in a pair of extra sessions.
"It was just a hard fought battle between two teams who were trying to find a way to win," TTU head coach Steve Springthorpe said on Sunday's outcome. "We defended relatively well, but did get stretched because of what Chattanooga can do. Credit them for the way they played. Ultimately we didn't do the things that we needed to do to come out with a victory."
The Golden Eagles kicked off the scoring in the 21st minute, using a well timed corner to capture the early 1-0 edge. The sophomore connection of Karigan Owens and Mary Francis Hoots propelled Tech to the first score of the match, after an Owens corner slammed off the noggin of Hoots and into the back of the net. Owens notched her first career assist on the play, while the score gave Hoots a team-best two goals on the season.
"Hoots does well inside the box when we are playing balls in the air on set pieces," Springthorpe said on the sophomore's offensive prowess. "We just try and put her in a place where she has opportunities, and she's done a good job for us this year in finding the ball and creating some goals."
The Golden Eagles took the one-goal margin into intermission, marking the seventh time in nine matches this year that TTU has blanked an opponent over the first 45 minutes. Tech held a 9-3 shot discrepancy over the Mocs (2-6-1) in the first stanza.
Chattanooga bounced back in the second half en route to 11 shots, including the equalizer in the 65th minute. Just like Tech, the Mocs used a corner to split the pipes as sophomore Amanda Ortiz received a cross from fellow sophomore McKenzie Gregg, before Ortiz took care of the rest for her second goal of the season. Gregg tallied her second assist of the year on the deadlocking score.
The Golden Eagles went on to force overtime, thanks in large part to a key Kari Naerdemann save in the 77th minute. Tech appeared to have control near its own box, but an errant pass was taken by UTC's Abby Linder, who quickly found herself all alone with just Naerdemann to beat. However, Linder's shot went begging, thanks to a brilliant diving attempt that saw the freshman goalkeeper get just enough on it to redirect the blast and keep the match tied.
Naerdemann ended the tilt with five saves, matching the total of UTC's Katie Emig, who stopped five shots as well.
The first overtime featured a shot by both sides, with Linder doing the honors for Chattanooga, and senior Taylor Sutton smacking one just wide in the 98th minute. Things intensified in the second extra session with five combined shots, three from the Golden Eagles.
Tech's season-high 17 shots marked the third straight match that TTU has had at least 10 shots. Sophomore Zoie Hensley led the charge with four, two of which were on-goal. The Mocs had 17 shots as well, paced by sophomore Peyton McCollum's six, one of which banged off the top of the cross bar in the 84th minute.
It's nothing but conference play from here on out, as OVC action opens up on Thursday, Sep. 24. The Golden Eagles will travel to Nashville to tangle with Belmont at 6:30 p.m. CT.
