By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It took nearly 114 minutes to decide a winner, and in the end, Middle Tennessee State University scratched and clawed its way to a 1-0 victory over the Tennessee Tech soccer team amidst another packed house at Tech Soccer Field.
The Golden Eagle defense more than stood their ground in fending off 24 shots over the duration of regulation, the first overtime, and almost half of the second extra session, yet the Blue Raiders (1-0-0) would ultimately find a way to steal a win in Cookeville mid-way through the second OT.
In the 114th minute, MTSU senior Grace Summers took control of the ball, found a crevice in the Tech defense, and soared one past the diving try of Golden Eagle keeper Kari Naerdemann to push the Blue Raiders to a season-opening victory by the slimmest of margins. Summers finished with a match-high five shots.
"We knew they were going to be a challenge for us. They have great athletes, great players, and so you can see why they are a great team," Tennessee Tech head coach Steve Springthorpe said moments after the match concluded. "I'm happy with how we played. Of course we aren't happy with the result, we want to win, but we are happy with some of the things we accomplished. We are heading in the right direction."
After a first-half that featured only three total shots-on-goal, Tech (0-2-0) ratcheted up things defensively in slowing down a Middle Tennessee attack that recorded 19 total shots in the second stanza and two overtimes combined. Freshman Kari Naerdemann made 10 saves in her second collegiate start, seven of which came after half time.
Freshman Alyssa Montgomery, sophomores Mary Francis Hoots and Lauren Brewer, and junior Kalyn Pruett made a slew of strong defensive plays in halting the Blue Raiders, who also took seven corners and came up empty on all seven chances.
"We talked about what we were able to accomplish in the previous game and then build on it," Springthorpe said. "I think we were a little more organized in this game and defended a little bit better as well."
MTSU senior keeper Kelsey Brouwer had to make just one save en route to the shutout victory, but the stop came at a critical juncture in the tilt. With two and a half minutes remaining in regulation, Golden Eagle junior Abi Gearing smoked one from the outskirts in the box that was just deflected off the diving attempt by Brouwer to keep the match scoreless.
Tech will hit the road for the first time in 2015 on Friday, Aug. 28, traveling to East Tennessee State for a 6 p.m. CT showdown with the Buccaneers. The Golden Eagles will return back home on Sunday, Aug. 30 to tangle with the University of Alabama at 7 p.m.
