By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team will conclude the month of March with a Tuesday home affair against SIUE in the third to last match of the regular season. First kick with the Cougars at Tech Soccer Field is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.
Fans are permitted at Tech Soccer Field, with admission free of charge, but will be required to socially distance and wear face coverings. Capacity will be limited to one-third of the original capacity of 800 due to COVID-19 protocols.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Click here to watch. Live stats are also available. Click here to view.
A look at Tennessee Tech
The Golden Eagles (3-4-0) are coming off a tough loss in the club's last clash behind a 1-0 double-overtime defeat at the hands of UT Martin Friday night at Tech Soccer Field. Tech's first OT loss of the year ran the club's winless streak to four consecutive, all by 1-0 margins. Overall, all seven of TTU's matches have been decided by a 1-0 final.
Defensively, the purple and gold still lead the OVC in goals allowed, with only four in seven matches, and goals against average at a miniscule 0.56 mark. Senior keeper Isabelle Austin is the conference's leader in goals against average and save percentage at .902.
Chloe Smith sits atop the squad with 18 shots, a mark that puts the Cincinnati, Ohio product in eighth in the league. Smith is one of three Golden Eagles to find the back of the net this spring after pushing the purple and gold to a victory in the 88th minute at Morehead State on Mar. 9. Freshmen Gabby Garcia and Meredith Nye have accounted for Tech's other two scores this year, with Garcia splitting the pipes in the 94th minute to win the match vs. EIU on Mar. 12, and Nye's net-finder broke a scoreless deadlock in the 32nd minute at Austin Peay on Mar. 2.
Freshman Selma Askildsen and sophomore Emily Carlevato are the only two TTU field players to not leave the pitch at any point this season. The defensive duo has notched 648 minutes apiece this spring.
A look at SIUE
After starting the spring with five consecutive victories, the Cougars (5-1-1) have gone winless in the club's last two contests. SIUE played to a 3-3 draw at Southeast Missouri on Mar. 23 before falling 2-1 in the squad's last match against Murray State in a tilt that saw the Racers break a 1-1 knot with a goal in the 72nd minute.
The Cougars lead the OVC in most offensive categories, including goals (20), assists (20) and shots (127). SIUE is averaging a league-best 18.14 shots per match.
Mackenzie Litzsinger, a 2019 All-OVC first teamer, leads the conference in points (13), goals (5) and shots (23). Lily Schnieders is second in the league with four assists.
Defensively, the Cougars have allowed nine scores in seven matches this spring. Taylor Spiller has spent each and every minute in goal for the club and enters Tuesday's affair with a .727 save percentage and a 1.25 goals against average.
Inside the Series
Tech leads the all-time series, 5-3-2. The two teams played to a 2-2 tie in 2019 in Edwardsville, while the Golden Eagles captured the last Cookeville meeting with a 2-0 nod in 2018.
Photo by Jim Dillon
