By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
GREENSBORO, N.C. – A barrage of late goals spelled trouble for the Tennessee Tech soccer team as a trio of UNC Greensboro scores in the final 13 minutes led the Golden Eagles (1-1-0) to their first loss of the season with a 3-0 defeat.
After blanking the Spartans (1-0-1) for the contest's first 76 minutes to run Tech's scoreless streak to over 165 minutes to begin the year following a 2-0 shutout victory over UNC Asheville Friday evening, UNCG found a way to break through against a Golden Eagle defense that was under constant pressure. The Spartans peppered 26 total shots in the match, 15 of which were on-goal, including the tilt's three goals that spoiled TTU's chance at a perfect 2-0 road trip in the Tar Heel State.
"Congrats to UNCG for playing a great game. I thought they brought intensity and passion to us and in the end they were able to finish the day with a victory," TTU head coach Steve Springthorpe said follwoing the match. "In regards to our team, I thought we had stretches throughout he game where we played well. However, stretches and competing for certain parts of the game will rarely allow you to be in a position to have the success that we want to be in at the end of 90 minutes. I think today will allow us to evaluate where we are as a team and give us a better idea of what we need to concentrate on before we open at home next week."
Sophomore Caylin Prillaman broke the scoreless deadlock in the 77th minute, smacking one into the back of the net off an Ashton Duty corner kick, one of 11 Spartan corners in the match, including nine in the second half. Duty earned the assist on the tie-breaking goal, while Pirllaman would be heard from once again in the affair's waning moments.
UNCG tacked on to its narrow advantage in the contest's closing stages, rallying for a pair of goals in the final seven minutes to give the Spartans all the insurance they needed. Sophomore Dena Cisic took care of the second score in the 83rd minute, knocking one home on a feed from freshman Maddie Hoffmann, who notched the assist on the play. The final goal saw Caylin Prillaman collect her second score of the match after the High Point, N.C. native split the pipes in the 89th minute, capitalizing on a rebounding chance for the unassisted goal.
Despite surrendering three goals, sophomore Kari Naerdemann did record a career-high 12 saves, surpassing double digit stops for only the second time in her Tech tenure after the Herne, Germany native notched 10 saves Aug. 23, 2015 against Middle Tennessee. Across the way, red-shirt junior Chloe Buehler made five halts en route to the shutout-win.
TTU tallied nine total shots in the match, paced by a trio of Golden Eagles with two each. Freshmen Victoria Breeden and Dani Shartouny peppered a pair, while senior Kalyn Pruett accompanied the first-year players with two shots as well.
After splitting its first two matches of the year, Tech will make its home opener on Friday, Aug. 26 as the Golden Eagles battle Wright State under the lights at 7 p.m. CT. Admission to Tech Soccer Field is free of charge.
