By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – An intense scoreless battle raged throughout regulation and a first overtime, but UT Martin split the pipes midway through the second extra session to hand the Tennessee Tech soccer team a 1-0 loss Friday night.
Emely van der Vliet put a sudden end to the in-state clash, scoring in the 105th minute to send the Golden Eagles (3-4-0) to their first OT defeat of the spring. All seven of TTU's contests have been decided by a 1-0 margin.
A Skyhawk serve led to a small crowd inside the box, and after a redirection found van der Vliet, the Rosmalen, Netherlands native popped one past the try of Isabelle Austin to push UT Martin into the win column.
The Skyhawks (3-3-1) outshot Tech, 19-11, including 9-3 in the shots on-goal department. The Golden Eagles did manage to produce a pair on-point in the first overtime behind a Natalie Rolen try in the 92nd minute and a Cassidy Bereda drive in the 95th minute. Tech's other shot on-goal came courtesy of a Meredith Nye rope in the 73rd minute.
Erica Myers tallied three saves, while Austin secured a season-high eight stops, including a Bella Roberts attempt in the final seconds of the first overtime following a Skyhawk corner. The Golden Eagle senior keeper also stepped up with two key saves in the final 10 minutes of regulation, first denying Roberts in the 81st minute, before keeping Jill Hildreth off the board in the 88th minute.
Cassidy Bereda led the purple and gold with three shots, while van der Vliet's seven attempts were the most in the match.
Selma Askildsen, Emily Carlevato, Macy Carter and Ashley Grimes all joined Austin as the five Golden Eagles that did not leave the pitch at any point.
With three matches remaining in the regular season, TTU will set its sights on a tilt with SIUE on Tuesday, Mar. 30 at Tech Soccer Field. First kick is set for 4 p.m. CT.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
