Tech soccer collects crucial road win at Western Illinois in final away affair of regular season
MACOMB, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team took care of business in its final road match of the regular season behind a 3-1 triumph Sunday afternoon at Western Illinois.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
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Team Stats
Western Illinois
| Game Statistics | Tennessee Tech | Western Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 15 (7) | 8 (2) |
| Saves | 1 | 4 |
| Fouls | 5 | 3 |
| Corner Kicks | 10 | 5 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
MACOMB, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team took care of business in its final road match of the regular season behind a 3-1 triumph Sunday afternoon at Western Illinois. The Golden Eagles scored late in the first half and added two more goals in the second to push their way to a crucial victory that sets the stage for a potential third-straight OVC regular-season championship heading into next Sunday's season finale.
Coupled with a Little Rock and Lindenwood draw Sunday afternoon, Tech (5-8-5, 5-2-1 OVC) is now sitting in a tie with Lindenwood for first in the conference thanks to 16 points. The two clubs will face off in Cookeville on Oct. 27 in a winner-take-all scenario for the regular-season league crown and No. 1 seed in the OVC Tournament.
Sunday's win over the Leathernecks (1-13-1, 1-6-1 OVC) saw scores from Allison Lee, Ebba Melin and Katie Toney. Lee's net-finder took place in the 39th minute and unwrapped a scoreless knot that allowed the purple and gold to go into intermission with a 1-0 advantage. The Powell, Tenn. product split the pipes for the second time this season thanks to a Lucia Cuadra corner that initially deflected off of a Leatherneck before banging off the crossbar where Lee was there to head it home on the rebound to give the Golden Eagles the lead.
Tech's second-half attack featured two goals within an eight-minute span, starting with a Melin goal in the 65th minute for the freshman's first-career score. Another Cuadra corner did the trick with her set-piece attempt connecting with Melin's lid and off the right post before soaring into the back of the net to extend TTU's edge to 2-0.
Cuadra's assist would be the first of two in the win after the Barcelona, Spain native set up a Katie Toney goal to conclude Tech's potent attack in the 73rd minute. Cuadra's nifty move on a Leatherneck defender allowed her to enter the box along the left side before her cross ricocheted off another WIU defender and onto the waiting shoe tops of Toney who easily took care of the rest for her seventh goal of the season.
Toney's score was also her fifth goal over the last seven matches, while Cuadra's two-assist showing gives her an OVC-leading seven helpers. All seven assists have occurred over the last seven contests.
Rachel Balinao accounted for the lone Western Illinois goal with a score in the 86th minute, but the Golden Eagles found a way to get to the finish line to cap off the victory and put themselves in a position to win the program's fourth OVC regular-season title.
Toney led all players in the match with three shots. Claire Brown and Ali Matthews paced the WIU attack with two tires apiece. The Golden Eagles led the shots battle, 15-7. Tech surrendered only two shots on-goal.
Maggie Conrad posted one save in the win, while Ariel Bernard collected four saves and allowed all three goals in just about 80 minutes of action. Isabel Navas Rodriguez did not see a shot come her way in over 10 minutes in between the pipes.
Tech's victory officially clinched a first-round bye to the quarterfinals of the OVC Tournament. The Golden Eagles will go for the program's first-ever regular-season three-peat as well as a double-bye to the semifinals on Oct. 27 in their winner-take-all clash with Lindenwood. Kickoff with the Lions is set for 1 p.m. CT. Admission to Tech Soccer Field is free of charge.
Photo by Jim Dillon
