By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Off to its best start since 2004, the Tennessee Tech soccer team will look to make it a perfect home-stand over the weekend, welcoming Louisiana Tech to Tech Soccer Field Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Having already toppled Wright State and Mercer in the first two tilts of the three-match stand, the Golden Eagles (3-1-0) matchup with the Lady Techsters (3-1-1) is TTU's only contest over the weekend with an open date scheduled on the books for Friday.
Sunday's match will be broadcast live on the Golden Eagle Sports Network via the Ohio Valley Conference Digitial Network. Click here to watch.
Tech's defense has paved the way in getting the Golden Eagles off to the rapid beginning, blanking opponents in three of the first four matches for only the second time in program history (2004). The club's defensive prowess was put on full display in last weekend's pair of affairs with TTU only allowing a combined two shots on-goal in shutout nods over Wright State and Mercer.
With three more shutouts this year, sophomore goalkeeper Kari Naerdemann has moved into second-place on Tech's all-time career shutout list with 10 total in her year and change with the program. This season, the Herne, Germany native has surrendered three goals in four matches, making 17 saves in the process for a .850 save percentage.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles enter Sunday's matchup with some conference hardware after junior Karigan Owens was named this week's adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week, receiving the honor Tuesday afternoon. The La Grange, Ky. native came up huge in Tech's 3-0 win over Mercer Sunday afternoon, playing a pivotal role in all three of TTU's scores as the 5-foot-9 junior tallied a goal and two assists en route to a four-point showing. All three Golden Eagle goals came off Owens corner-kicks.
Senior Abi Gearing has led the Tech goal-scoring charge in the early stages of the season, notching three after finding the back of the net twice in a season-opening win at UNC Asheville on Aug. 19, before adding a third score in Sunday's victory over Mercer.
Before clashing with the Golden Eagles on Sunday, La Tech will lock up with another OVC opponent Friday evening as the Lady Techsters connect with Jacksonville State at 7 p.m. CT. The club is coming off a 9-0 win over Grambling State on Tuesday.
A balanced offensive attack has been the name of the game so far for La Tech with 11 different players scoring at least one goal over the course of the first five matches. Senior Kathryn Sloan and sophomore Mylene Roy-Ouellet are tied for the most goals on the squad with three apiece. With two assists, Sloan has the most points on the team with eight.
Defensively, the Lady Techsters have only allowed 14 shots on-goal in five contests this season.
Sunday's match will be the third in the all-time series between the two schools after La Tech took down the Golden Eagles in double overtime back in 2010, before the two teams played to a scoreless draw in 2011.
Admission to all Tech home regular season matches is free of charge.
