By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team will take aim in its final road match of the regular season with a pivotal conference clash Sunday at Western Illinois. The second-to-last affair of the regular year from Macomb is set to begin at noon CT.
The match will be streamed live on ESPN+. Click here to watch. Live stats will also be available. Click here to view.
A look at Tennessee Tech
The Golden Eagles (4-8-5, 4-2-1 OVC) head into the road finale sitting in third place in the OVC behind 13 conference points. Lindenwood, who will Tech will host in the regular-season finale on Oct. 27, is currently leading the league with 15 points, while Little Rock is sitting in second with 14 points. The top two teams will receive a double-bye straight to the OVC Tournament semifinals. The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will earn a bye to the quarterfinals.
The Golden Eagles go into Sunday looking to bounce back after falling 2-1 in the club's last contest at Eastern Illinois on Thursday to snap a TTU five-match unbeaten streak. Trailing 2-0 late in the tilt, Tori Soutuyo found the back of the net in the 83rd minute for the sophomore's first goal of the season and third of her career. Soutuyo's score provided the purple and gold with a rapid response after EIU doubled up its lead behind a goal in the 81st minute.
With two matches remaining in the regular season, the Golden Eagles look well on their way to finish the year leading the OVC in goals for the third-straight season. Tech's 26 scores are eight more than the next closest school.
Individually, Neve Renwick is atop the conference with nine goals and 20 points. The sophomore forward out of Sheffield, England is also pacing the OVC with 73 shots and 31 shots on-goal. Katie Toney's six goals are currently tied for third in the league.
Lucia Cuadra's six assists are the most in the conference, while Skyler Williams is currently in a knot for second thanks to five helpers. The West River, Md. product assisted on Soutuyo's goal in Thursday's match at Eastern Illinois.
Maggie Conrad's 89 saves trail only WIU's Ariel Bernard, who has posted 94 this fall.
A look at Western Illinois
The Leathernecks (1-12-1, 1-5-1 OVC) have their work cut out for them in their bid at making the OVC Tournament. With two matches remaining in the regular season, Western Illinois is currently sitting in last place with four conference points, but are just two points back of a postseason spot.
The Leathernecks' lone win came courtesy of a 2-1 triumph at Southeast Missouri on Sept. 29. The club's only draw occurred in the contest after the SEMO win behind a 1-1 home deadlock against SIUE on Oct. 3.
WIU has split the pipes just five times in 14 matches this season. The club has seen five different Leathernecks do the honors with goals from Callie McMurtrey, Alex Betker, Ali Matthews, Landry McCoid and Rita Moran.
Defensively, Ariel Bernard has yielded 25 scores in 13 matches. The freshman from Queen Creek, Ariz. leads the OVC with 94 saves.
Inside the series
Sunday's meeting will mark just the second-ever get-together in the set. The Golden Eagles bested WIU 1-0 in last year's first gathering on Oct. 8 in Cookeville. Katie Toney found the back of the net in the 36th minute for the tilt's lone goal. Tech outshot the Leathernecks 28-4.
Photo by Jim Dillon
