By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team saved its best for last, as the Golden Eagles erased a 1-0 deficit with two goals in the final 12 minutes to walk out of JSU with a dramatic 2-1 victory Friday afternoon.
Tech's late-stage heroics snapped a five-match slide, while the club's two scores marked a season-high for the purple and gold. With one tilt remaining in the regular season, the Golden Eagles (4-5-0) are still the only team in the OVC that has not allowed more than one goal in a match this spring.
Trailing 1-0 late in regulation, Tech found a spark when it needed it most, courtesy of Gabby Garcia. Responsible for the club's last goal, an overtime winner on Mar. 12 against Eastern Illinois, the 5-foot-3 freshman made her move into the box, hoping for a chance at the equalizer.
As Garcia maneuvered to the right side of the box, a trio of Gamecocks converged. Cool, calm and collected, the Golden Eagle rookie spun a low drive that just snuck inside the far-side post to push the purple and gold even in the 79th minute. Garcia's unassisted score made her the only Golden Eagle with two net-finders this spring.
No more than 10 minutes later, with the match seemingly destined for overtime, Tech made it known that it had other ideas. Garcia sprung into action again after claiming possession and scooting it across midfield with space in front of her. The Elizabethtown, Ky. product connected with Chloe Smith along the left side, and after Smith entered the box, the 5-foot-8 junior put a perfect pass right in front of the net and onto the waiting shoe tops of Bailey Taylor.
Taylor took advantage of the opportunity with a quick shot that found the back of the net and gave the Golden Eagles their first lead in a match since Garcia's game-winner on Mar. 12. Taylor's score was her first of the season, and fifth of her career, while Smith collected her first assist of the campaign on the go-ahead goal.
Jacksonville State (3-5-1) took an early lead in the tilt behind a goal in the 15th minute that unwrapped the scoring. The Gamecocks capitalized on a corner kick, using an Alicia Pallister cross that found Gabriel Clarke inside the box. With heavy Golden Eagle traffic converging, Clarke hooked up with Isobal Spary near the net and Spray took care of the rest with a shot that split that pipes to propel JSU to the early edge.
Spray's score was the first of the season for the Selby, England native, while Pallister and Clakre both earned assists on the play.
The Golden Eagles produced 12 shots in the match, led by Smith's career-high seven, including a team-best three shots on-goal. The Gamecocks racked up 17 shots, paced by Kyle Wells' five. Ida Cedarbug notched a club-high two shots on-goal.
Isabelle Austin secured four saves in the contest. JSU's Morgan Lerch generated five stops across the way.
With one match remaining in the regular season, TTU will welcome EKU to Cookeville for a Tuesday, Apr. 6 meeting under the lights at Tech Soccer Field. First kick with the Colonels is slated for 7 p.m. CT.
Photo by Jim Dillon
