By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Three late goals spelled trouble for the Tennessee Tech soccer team in its in-state battle with Belmont Thursday evening. The Bruins split the pipes three times in an eight-minute span over the tilt's final 11 minutes to claim a 3-1 victory at Tech Soccer Field.
Tech (0-6-3) unwrapped the scoring on a Neve Renwick goal in the 49th minute for the sophomore's OVC-leading fifth net-finder of the season. Skyler Williams collected her club-best third assist on a through ball that led Renwick past the Belmont defense with just the keeper to beat. As Sydney Jones rushed toward Renwick, the Golden Eagle forward kept her bid low and snuck it inside the far post to give Tech a 1-0 edge.
With the finish line sitting under a dozen minutes away, the Golden Eagles were unable to hold their edge after Belmont (3-5-0) struck quickly with its trio of goals to escape Cookeville with a second-consecutive win.
The first Bruin marker come courtesy of a corner that saw Kennedy Bernsen connect with Ava Labocki for the equalizer in the 79th minute. Bernsen picked up an assist on Labocki's header home for the freshman's second-straight contest with a goal.
Kate Virtel provided the Bruins with the go-ahead score with just under five minutes left in regulation thanks to a drive from close to 25 yards out. The sophomore from St. Louis elected to wind up from well outside the box and was able to finish top shelf to push Belmont to a 2-1 advantage in the 86th minute.
The Bruins would go on to add another goal in the 87th minute after Labocki collected her second score of the evening to extend the BU edge to 3-1.
Renwick picked up a season-high seven shots to lead all players in the match, while Katie Toney's six attempts matched a career-high for the junior out of McMinnville, Tenn. Labocki, Virtel and Leah Firsdon each notched a team-leading two tries.
Maggie Conrad collected five saves, while Jones earned eight saves in between the pipes for Belmont. Tech's nine bids on-frame were the most by the purple and gold this season.
The Golden Eagles will officially tie a ribbon on their non-conference campaign on Sunday, Sept. 15 with a trip to Furman and an afternoon tangle with the Paladins. Kickoff from Greenville, S.C. is set for 2 p.m. CT.
Photo by Jim Dillon
