Soccer to face Winthrop, Charlotte this weekend

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech soccer team wraps up its three-game season-opening road trip this weekend with games at Winthrop on Friday and Charlotte on Sunday.

Friday's match will be Winthrop's season opener. Winthrop finished with a 7-8-4 record in 2007, and was picked to finish sixth out of 10 teams in the Big South Conference. In the two teams' first ever meeting in 2007, TTU and Winthrop played to a 1-1 tie.

Two ways to keep up with Tech at Winthrop:

Follow the match with LIVE STATS

Fans can also purchase a live web stream of the contest up to an hour after game time by visiting www.bigsouthsports.com

On Sunday, the Golden Eagles (0-1-0) head to North Carolina to face the Charlotte 49ers. Charlotte is 1-1-0 in 2008, after facing two in-state foes. The University of North Carolina beat the 49ers 5-1 in their season opener on Aug. 22, before Charlotte topped UNC-Wilmington 3-2 on Aug. 25. Tennessee Tech is 1-0-0 all-time against the 49ers.

Kaitlyn Thacker earned the start at goalkeeper for the Golden Eagles in the season opener at Georgia State over fellow true-freshman Lauren Schaedig. Thacker finished with four saves in the 5-1 loss at Georgia State.

"When you lose 5-1, you have to work on everything," said head coach Becky Fletcher, about what the Golden Eagles will be focusing on in practice before the weekend games.

Tech comes home to host Appalachian State on Friday, Sept. 5, and will also face Vanderbilt in Cookeville on Sunday, Sept. 7. The Tech Soccer field features a few upgrades in 2008, including new goals, covered benches, and a decorated wind screen surrounding the perimeter of the field.

Admission to Tech's home matches is free.