By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team started its 2020-21 campaign on the right foot, as the Golden Eagles marched into Austin Peay and left with a 1-0 nod Tuesday afternoon in the first of a 10-match, OVC-only spring schedule.
Freshman Meredith Nye tallied her first career goal in the 32nd minute to account for the tilt's scoring, while Tech's defense yielded only one shot on-goal to push the purple and gold to the shutout victory.
"We're excited to open up the season with a win, especially getting one on the road in our first match in 16 months," Tech head coach Steve Springthorpe said. "It seems like every time we play Austin Peay it's always a good battle and today definitely fit that mold. Our team was looking forward to just getting out there and playing in a real game again, and to come away with a win like this was the icing on the cake. It's a great start to our season."
Scoreless two thirds into the opening stanza, Sarah Block set up for a corner, one of 10 taken throughout the course of the contest for TTU. Block's serve connected with Nye, who promptly headed it past leaping try of APSU goalkeeper Peyton Powell for Nye's first career goal. Block was credited with an assist on the play.
Minutes later it looked as if Tech had doubled up the margin on another set piece, but a Cassidy Bereda goal off a header was wiped off the board due to an offsides call.
Nye's score marked one of four shots on-goal for the Golden Eagles, with Natalie Rolen, Chloe Smith and Yao Giada Zhou accounting for the other three. Giada Zhou paced the club with three shots in her first collegiate match, while Smith generated a pair of attempts.
Austin Peay's lone shot on-point took place in the 62nd minute behind an Ashely Whittaker try, but Isabelle Austin made the stop for the Tech senior's lone halt of the match that helped her record a fourth career shutout. APSU keeper Peyton Powell picked up three saves across the way.
"Our defense played well today and it was really a group effort," Springthorpe said. "To limit a team to just one shot on-goal is a big accomplishment, especially for a new back line that has freshmen and sophomores playing there. Our senior keeper Izzy did a great job of keeping them organized and her overall leadership showed out there today. I'm happy we found a way to get a shutout, and again, it was just a good team win."
Claire Larose was the only Governor with more than one shot, accounting for two of the club's seven total attempts.
Five Golden Eagles played all 90 minutes, with Austin, Selma Askildsen, Emily Carlevato, Macy Carter and Nye all going the distance. Askildsen, Nye, Giada Zhou, Gabby Garcia and Katelyn Farmer all made their collegiate debuts in the contest.
"I know we all missed playing and competing in real games again so to get out there today was exciting to begin with," Springthopre noted. "From a coaching perspective, I don't think there were any more nerves than normal, but more of a sense of 'ok how is this going to look today.' To our team's credit we played like how we have been practicing, which was great to see. I'm happy for our team and am also appreciative of our administration and [Director of Athletics] Mark Wilson for putting us in a position to play this spring. It was an exciting day."
Following an open date on the calendar on Friday, Mar. 5, Tech will continue a season-opening two match road swing on Tuesday, Mar. 9 with a trip to Morehead State on the books. First kick is slated for 2 p.m. CT.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
