By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team's season opener swung Samford's direction as the Golden Eagles fell 3-1 Thursday evening at Shauna Yelton Field.
Trailing 2-0 early in the second stanza, Tech managed to cut the Bulldog lead in half behind a Neve Renwick goal in the 59th minute. The reigning OVC Freshman of the Year split the pipes to provide the purple and gold with a quick response after Samford (1-0-0) doubled up their edge a mere three minutes earlier on a Layton Glisson goal in the 56th minute.
Renwick's sixth-career score was made possible on an Abigail Davis feed for the sophomore's first career assist.
TTU's bid at providing an equalizer would ultimately go by the books after the Bulldogs made the road at a deadlock even steeper thanks to a third goal in the 79th minute. Fleming Dean did the honors, using a Brigid McElderry pass to help give Samford late insurance with a 3-1 advantage.
The Golden Eagles (0-0-1) fought to the end with three of the club's six shots on-goal in the final 10 minutes. Overall, Tech attempted eight shots, including six after intermission. Renwick paced the purple and gold with four tries, three of which were on-point. Glisson led the match with five total attempts.
The Bulldogs, who have claimed nine of the last 10 Southern Conference regular-season titles, unwrapped the scoring in the 29th minute behind after Anna Major found the back of the net for the squad's first goal of 2024. The successful try was one of 15 overall shots for the home side and one of seven on-goal.
Junior Maggie Conrad logged four saves in between the pipes, while Samford used a pair of goalkeepers to pick up the nod. Peyton Hull stopped four attempts and allowed the Golden Eagle goal in 39 minutes of action and Mia Krusinski halted one Tech try in 51 minutes of work.
17 Golden Eagles appeared in the contest with Conrad, Davis and Cheyenne McCloud going all 90 minutes. McCloud was one of seven TTU newcomer to make their way onto the pitch, joining Claire Payla, Lucia Cuadra, Allison Lee, Skylar Williams, Delaney Wade and Natalie Howard.
The Golden Eagles will make their 2024 home debut on Sunday, Aug. 18 as TTU will welcome Miami (OH) to Cookeville for a 1 p.m. CT start. Admission to Tech Soccer Field is free of charge.
Photo by Jim Dillon
