The Golden Eagle soccer team suffered a tough loss Friday to UT-Chattanooga, but turned the tables and brought home a win on Sunday against East Tennessee State University. Tech (2-7-0) scored early in the game from senior Jessica Wilson, going into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Chattanooga answered in the second half scoring twice, giving the Mocs the edge to win 2-1.
Fourth year head coach Daniel Brizard said, “It was rather disappointing, I thought we were the better team on the day but in the end they just worked a little harder than we did.”
Tech outshot Chattanooga 23-9, many of those scoring opportunities coming from the first half. Wilson scored in the 36th minute, burying the ball in the back of the net off one of Tech’s chances. The Mocs were able to tie the game up in the 54th minute due to a well-timed free kick, and again in the 78th minute throughout the run of play. Senior Ellie Iaciofano tallied nine shots on the match, with one hitting the left post in the first half.
“The scoring opportunities were a positive,” Iaciofano said. “It’s getting much better. We just have to finish- that’s our next step in our success.”
Despite the heartbreaking loss on Friday, the team was able to come back and shutout ETSU, 1-0.
“We wanted a win but we had to think in small increments to make the game simple,” Iaciofano said.
Senior Shannon Rountree scored just three minutes into the game, rebounding a shot from Iaciofano. The Golden Eagles were able to fend off the Buc’s offense for the remainder of the game, with 19 shots from both teams. Tech had been knocking on the door for another win after suffering six losses this season that were decided by just one goal.
“Individually as well as a team it’s their job to change the culture,” said Coach Brizard. “We can talk about it all we want but unless the players want to change and be the difference, it’s not going to happen and I think that’s probably what the difference was.”
The game wrapped up the team’s final non-conference match of the season. The team will kickoff its first Ohio Valley Conference series this weekend at Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville and at Eastern Illinois.
“I think it’s a great boost going into conference off of a win, but it is conference and anything goes,” Brizard said.
The Golden Eagles will play under the lights Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
