THURSDAY'S SCORES
@UT Martin 2, Indiana State 0
@Morehead State 1, Eastern Michigan 0
@Southeast Missouri 1, Evansville 0
@Illinois State 5,
Lindenwood 1
SIUE 1, @Southern Illinois 1
Tennessee Tech 3, @Middle Tennessee 1
UT MARTIN 2, INDIANA STATE 0
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer squad clicked on all cylinders this afternoon, downing Indiana State by a 2-0 margin at Skyhawk Field.
Megan Drake provided all of the offense the Skyhawks (1-3-2) would need as the senior forward out of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho struck for a pair of goals. She found the back of the net in the 16th and 51st minute for her team-best third and fourth scores of the 2022 campaign. Drake and Makayla Robinson led the way with three shots apiece as UT Martin placed eight of its 15 tries on goal. Robinson and Abbie McHenry were each credited with their first assists of the season.
The vaunted Skyhawk defense took care of business as well, completing its second shutout of the season. True freshman goalkeeper Poppy Bastock faced 16 Sycamore shot attempts and managed seven huge saves while senior Catey Hunt was a force defensively, logging all 90 minutes.
Hunt got things started as the McDonough, Ga. native tallied the first shot on goal attempt of the match in the fourth minute. Bastock made her first snag of the day exactly 15 minutes into the bout to keep the match scoreless.
A mere 35 seconds later, Drake broke the 0-0 tie with her first goal of the day. She received a pass from Robinson and slid a low liner past the diving Indiana State goalkeeper to put UT Martin ahead by a 1-0 margin.
Izzy Patterson and Robinson each had shots on goal in a 67-second span soon thereafter as the Skyhawks continued to apply pressure. Bastock secured saves in the 27th and 33rd minutes before another Robinson shot on goal in the 35th minute nearly extended UT Martin’s lead to 2-0. Bastock made sure the Skyhawks held the advantage at the halftime intermission after making two more stops in the final eight minutes of the first stanza.
Bastock tacked on another save within the first three minutes of the second half before Drake accounted for an insurance goal. Chasing down a perfect pass from McHenry, Drake sprinted down the right side of the box and lofted a high-arcing shot at an angle that tipped off Indiana State’s Tara Hoffman’s fingertips before trickling into the net at the 50:41 mark.
Emma Elliott brought fresh legs into the UT Martin attack, reeling off a shot on goal less than 90 seconds after checking into the contest as a substitute. Hannah Zahn followed with a shot that was on target under 10 minutes later but Hoffman was there for the Sycamore save.
The Skyhawk defensive unit limited Indiana State to just one shot on goal over the final 42:16 of the contest. Bastock nabbed her seventh and final save in the 75th minute as UT Martin put the finishing touches on its shutout.
A three-match homestand continues for the Skyhawks on Saturday, Sept. 10 as UT Martin hosts Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m.
MOREHEAD STATE 1, EASTERN MICHIGAN 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Morehead State soccer team took the victory over Eastern Michigan as the sun set on Thursday, as an early second half goal allowed MSU to hang onto a 1-0 lead until the final whistle to win the Battle of the Eagles at MSU Soccer Field.
In the 53rd minute, Hadley Cytron made a run down the right side before delivering a cross to the back post that found Sejla Podzic, who gave Morehead State the lead with a header into the back of the net. Podzic had two of MSU's three shots on the night, and their only shot on goal.
MSU goalkeeper Michelle Jerantowski had a fine night in goal, saving all three EMU shots on goal and posting her second shutout of the season. She had plenty of help from the defense, as Anna Lohrer, Madison Feldhaus, and Sarah Falloon all played well over 75 minutes, stopping many Eastern Michigan attacks before they reached Jerantowski.
Avery Redmon played all 90 minutes and helped control the midfield with Kate Larbes (55 minutes), allowing Morehead State to keep possession for just over half of the match.
Eastern Michigan led the way in shots 11-3, and held a 2-0 advantage in corners. EMU goalkeeper Kevser Guendogdu took the loss in her first start of the season, failing to save the lone Morehead State shot on goal.
Next up for MSU Soccer is a road tilt at the University of Cincinnati on Sunday at 1 pm, before opening OVC play at home vs. Southern Indiana on September 18.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1, EVANSVILLE 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Recap coming soon.
ILLINOIS STATE 5, LINDENWOOD 1
NORMAL, Ill. - The Lindenwood women's soccer team (3-3-1, 0-0-0 OVC) dropped a road matchup at Illinois State (1-6-0, 0-0-0 MVC) by a score of 5-1.
Both teams pushed forward early in the game as Lily Suter had a great scoring chance for Lindenwood in the 10th minute, but her right-footed shot went wide. Five minutes later, Illinois State got on the board, taking an early 1-0 lead. The Redbirds would double their lead in the 21st minute after chipping one past Sam Blazek. The Lions pulled within one in the 34th minute when Rachel Jackson found the back of the net for the third time this year. 2-1 would be the score heading into halftime.
Illinois State came out firing in the second half, scoring three times in the opening 15 minutes of play. Lindenwood was unable to find any offensive rhythm during the second 45 minutes and were unable to close the margin, falling 5-1.
Lindenwood travels to Murray, Ky. for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff with Murray State on Sunday.
SIUE 1, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 1
CARBONDALE, Ill. - SIUE women's soccer collected its second straight tie, battling SIU Carbondale to a 1-1 deadlock Thursday night at Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex.
The Cougars, 1-3-2, outshot the Salukis 14-8 and bested the Salukis in corner kicks 6-4.
Taylor Dolt led the Cougars with five shots while Lily Schnieders added four.
The Cougars recorded the first goal of the game at 65:36 on an own goal. Just more than three minutes later Liz Brechtel tied the game for the Salukis with an assist to Emma Spotak.
SIUE's Taylor Spiller went the full 90 minutes in goal and finished with four saves. Maddy Alaluf had three saves in goal for SIU Carbondale, 2-2-1.
SIUE will close out the nonconference season Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest at Billiken Sports Complex.
TENNESSEE TECH 3, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Recap coming soon,