Tech Soccer scores OVC road victory at Austin Peay

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech soccer team visited in-state rival Austin Peay Friday night, and left with a 1-0 victory against its conference foe.

Sophomore Ashley Smith's aggressiveness paid off, with the game-winning goal in the second half. Smith leads the Golden Eagles (3-10-1, 2-1-1) with four goals and two assists on the season.

Freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Thacker got the starting nod, and posted her second shutout of the season, with help from from a stingy Golden Eagle defense.

Kaitlyn Thacker posted her second shut out of the season.
"The defense just played great tonight," coach Becky Fletcher said. "Every one of them played a great game."

With the game tied at halftime, Fletcher challenged her team to step it up in the second half.

"We challenged them to control the second half, and they did that," Fletcher said. "The effort they gave, and the sense of urgency we played with was unbelievable. I couldn't be more proud of these kids."

The win puts the Golden Eagles at 2-1-1 in the OVC at the mid-point of the conference season. Coming into the game, Tech was tied with Austin Peay at sixth place in the OVC, and the win vaults them near the top of the standings. The top six teams in the OVC advance to the conference tournament.

The Golden Eagles will not play Sunday, and return to action in Cookeville on Oct. 17 to host Eastern Illinois, and Oct. 19 to celebrate senior day against Southeast Missouri. Admission to games at Tech Soccer Field is free.