By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A defensive battle took center stage in the Tennessee Tech soccer team's regular-season finale, as the Golden Eagles played Southeast Missouri to a scoreless draw Sunday afternoon.

Coupled with Murray State's 1-0 nod over Austin Peay on Sunday, Tech (4-5-4, 3-2-3 OVC) ends up with the No. 5 seed in the OVC Tournament and will hit the road for a Friday first-round matchup in the postseason tourney.

TTU's scoreless knot pushes the purple and gold to a six-match unbeaten streak to tie the 2002 Golden Eagle squad for the second-longest unblemished stretch in program history. Sunday's deadlock marks the ninth overtime affair that Tech has played this season to extend an already program record.

The Golden Eagles held an 8-5 edge in shots, which included a 4-0 advantage after regulation. Three of Tech's four shots on-goal occurred in the second overtime behind one try on-frame by Bailey Taylor and two attempts on-point by Taylor Rhodes.

Rhodes paced the purple and gold with two shots on-goal, while Chloe Smith was the Tech leader with three total shots over the course of 110 minutes. Abby Tremain led the Redhawks (5-9-2, 2-4-2 OVC) with two shots, including one of the club's three attempts on-frame.

Isabelle Austin secured three saves in the contest, while Bailey Redden made four stops in between the pipes.

As the No. 5 seed, the Golden Eagles will meet eighth-seeded Eastern Illinois Panthers Friday in the first round of the OVC Tournament, which will be played in Murray, Ky. First kick is set for 2p.m. CT. Tech notched a 1-0, double-overtime triumph against the EIU on Oct. 10 in Cookeville.

Photo by Jim Dillon