By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – An early second-half surge to the tune of three goals within the first 15 minutes after intermission, coupled with a lights out defensive showing, led the Tennessee Tech soccer team to a 3-0 victory at Lindenwood in Thursday night's Ohio Valley Conference opener.
Bailey Taylor unwrapped the scoring in the 51st minute, before Meredith Nye tallied goals in the 58th and 60th minutes for her first career two-score match to help the Golden Eagles to a season-high tying three net-finders and a season-best 24 shots. With the win, Tech (2-4-3, 1-0-0 OVC) pushes its unbeaten streak to three straight, outscoring its opponents 8-3 in the trio of contests.
The Golden Eagles also run their OVC regular-season unbeaten streak to 15 in a row, dating back to the beginning of October 2021.
Defensively, TTU's first clean sheet of 2023 saw the purple and gold limit Lindenwood (2-6-1, 0-1-0 OVC) to just two total shots, the lowest amount Tech has yielded in a match since holding Lindenwood to just one attempt in last year's regular-season meeting in Cookeville on Sept. 25, a span of 16 matches. The Lions attempted both shots in the first half and had only one shot on-goal behind a Lauren Tyson try in the 14th minute that was gobbled up by Maggie Conrad.
Shortly after the Lions' first bid on-goal, Lindenwood received a red card in an effort to avoid a Katie Toney goal in the 17th minute. A through ball to the Golden Eagle sophomore had her in a position to beat just the keeper, but a Lion grabbed Toney from behind to avoid the almost certain score and prompt the card that put Lindenwood a player down for the rest of the match.
Immediately after the red was flashed, Yao Giada Zhou almost dented the scoreboard on a free kick from the edge of the box that slammed off the left post to keep the match scoreless, but after the break, Tech's attack ignited with three early second-half scores.
Bailey Taylor tied Neve Renwick for the team lead with her third goal of the campaign, using Renwick's assistance for the score after the freshman's initial drive deflected off Lindenwood keeper Erika Anstine and right to a charging Taylor who buried the chance to put Tech ahead 1-0 in the 51st minute. Taylor's take put the Powell, Tenn. product in rarified air thanks to her 15th career goal that moved the senior forward into the top 10 in program history in career scores. Taylor is now knotted with Ellie Iaciofano (2010-13), Jen Hoffman (2006, 08-10), Jocelyn Daniel (2002-06) and Kristin Stegeman (2000-01) for eighth place on the list.
Moments later, it was Meredith Nye's turn to etch her name into the scoring column thanks to a pair of goals in less than a two-minute span to give the Golden Eagles a 3-0 edge. Nye's first net-finder came seconds after a Tech corner that saw Katie Toney feed a pass through traffic in front of the net that caromed off a Lion and to Nye, who promptly found the back of the cage to double up Tech's lead in the 58th minute.
Nye's second score was made possible on a pair of passes from Renwick and Toney, who both tabbed assists on the play in the 60th minute. Renwick notched her first career assist, while Toney's helper was the McMinnville, Tenn. native's second of the season.
Renwick, who came into Thursday's league opener tied for the conference lead with 20 shots, picked up a match-high five attempts for the Sheffield, England product's second-highest total of the year. Four of Renwick's attempts were on-frame, also the most in the contest.
Maggie Conrad needed just one save en route to her first shutout of the season and eighth of her Tech tenure. Across the way, Erika Anstine halted nine Golden Eagle tries.
TTU will return to Cookeville for the club's OVC home opener, as the Golden Eagles will greet Southern Indiana on Sunday, Sept. 24. Kickoff from Tech Soccer Field is set for 1 p.m. CT and admission is free of charge.
Photo by Jim Dillon
