FRIDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee Tech 0, @East Tennessee State 0 (2OT)
TENNESSEE TECH 0, EAST TENNESSEE STATE 0
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech soccer team ended its long layoff with a stout defensive effort and an offensive output that featured a season-high in shots on the way to a scoreless draw Friday night in the non-conference finale at ETSU.
Playing for the first time since Aug. 29 after the last three matches were cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols, the Golden Eagles carded their first tie of the year after limiting the Bucs (3-1-2) to just four shots on-goal over the course of 110 minutes. Despite playing for the first time in the month of September, Tech (1-3-1) managed to produce a season-high 14 shots, highlighted by a campaign-best nine on-goal, including a pair in the first overtime.
Chloe Smith, who had appeared in just two matches all year prior to Friday, paced the purple and gold with five shots, four of which were on-frame. The Cincinnati, Ohio product's attempts and attempts on-point were the most by any Golden Eagle in a match this season. Yao Giada Zhou and Bailey Taylor each collected a season-high three shots and a season-best two shots on-goal. Raffaella Giuliano and Jenna Brown led the ETSU charge with two attempts each.
Isabelle Austin picked up three saves en route to her eighth career shutout and second blanking of the season, securing all three of her stops from the 89th minute on. Tech was credited with a key team save in the first overtime on a Jenna Brown drive off a Bucs' corner that caromed off a TTU defender right in front of the net before Austin dove on top of it. ETSU's Shu Ohba tallied a career-high nine halts in the scoreless knot.
The Golden Eagles came out soaring in the first half with seven of the club's 14 shots, including five on-goal. Tech held the Bucs to just one shot in the first stanza.
TTU will unwrap OVC play and appear at home for the first time in the month of September, as the purple and gold welcome SIUE to town on Sunday, Sept. 26. First kick from Tech Soccer Field is slated for 1 p.m. CT