THURSDAY'S SCORES
Kentucky 2,
@Eastern Kentucky 0
Indiana 2,
@UT Martin 1
Alabama 3,
@Jacksonville State 0
KENTUCKY 2, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University soccer team battled visiting Kentucky for 85 scoreless minutes on Thursday, but a late goal by Alex Fava eventually sparked the Wildcats to a 2-0 victory.
The Colonels attacked early, firing off two shots on goal in the first eight minutes of play, courtesy of freshman Audrey Anderson and senior Marian Wolski. Freshmen Maddy Lemery and Ali Kirk also put shots on frame in the 40th and 54th minutes, respectively.
However, with the game still scoreless in the waning minutes, Fava headed in a cross from Josie Knight to put the Wildcats ahead.
Kentucky’s Hannah Richardson tacked on an additional goal with mere seconds left to make it 2-0.
UK (5-0-2) narrowly outshot Eastern, 14-11. Wolski led EKU (1-6) on the day with three shots, including one on goal. Kentucky’s Richardson paced all players in the game with three shots, while Miranda Jimenez and Jordyn Rhodes recorded two apiece.
The Colonels attempted six corner kicks to the Wildcats’ one.
Sophomore goalkeeper Zoe Aguirre played a full 90 minutes, coming up with three saves.
A record setting 1,045 fans were in attendance for the intrastate contest.
The Colonels now head to Akron, Ohio to close out the non-conference season against the University of Akron on Sunday, Sept. 15th. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
INDIANA 2, UT MARTIN 1
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team seemed destined for overtime this evening against Big Ten Conference opponent Indiana but the Hoosiers capped off a come-from-behind win with a goal in the 87th minute to stun the Skyhawks by a 2-1 margin.
Senior forward Nicole Collins got UT Martin (2-3-2) on the scoreboard with a goal from the right side in the 31st minute, propelling the Skyhawks to a 1-0 halftime advantage. However, visiting Indiana (3-3) evened the match at 1-all in the 50th minute before the go-ahead goal with just 3:14 remaining in the second half.
UT Martin placed exactly half of its eight shot attempts on goal as reserves Baylee Arnott, Jaden Hildreth and Miah Olaleye joined Collins in that category. Lotte Koot was credited with the assist on Collins’ goal for her first collegiate point.
In goal, Erica Myers faced 24 total Hoosier shots, making five saves on the evening. Four of her saves came in the second stanza alone.
Alice Adams attempted the first shot of the match at the 4:25 mark and the Skyhawks’ next attempt was true. Koot, who had checked in to the match 55 seconds before the goal, directed a beautifully led pass to a streaking Collins to nudge UT Martin ahead by a 1-0 margin. It was the second goal of the season for Collins and the seventh in the career of the Newark, NY native.
Indiana came out of the halftime break and accounted for each of the first five shots of the second half. The Hoosiers snapped the Skyhawks’ shutout after Avery Lockwood fired a shot just out of the reach of a diving Myers into the top right corner of the net.
UT Martin’s defense tightened up as Myers was able to corral a trio of saves in the span of 12:35.
Olaleye nearly provided the go-ahead goal for the Skyhawks in the 74th minute, as she bent a lofted shot from 20 yards out on the right side that sent Indiana goalkeeper Bethany Kopel scrambling to make a clutch save.
Myers made a huge stop in the 86th minute, as she leapt for a dramatic punch save to keep the score at 1-all. Unfortunately, the Hoosiers were able to take their first lead of the match shortly thereafter, as Oliwia Wos emerged from a scrum to deliver a contested shot from 15 yards out that snuck past Myers.
UT Martin closes out nonconference play with a Sunday, Sept. 15 match at Wright State. First touch from Dayton, Ohio is scheduled for 5 p.m. CST as the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
ALABAMA 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State fell to visiting Alabama, 3-0, on Thursday night. With the loss the Gamecocks dropped to 3-4 on the season.
The Gamecocks held Alabama scoreless in the first half. The Crimson Tide scored a trio of goals in the second period to secure the win.
Cynthia Bagozzi registered the only shot on goal for Jacksonville State.
Chloe Russo made six saves in the loss.
Jacksonville State is back in action on Sunday as it hosts Mercer.