MARTIN, Tenn.- The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team ended their second straight home match with a 1-1 draw against Ohio Valley Conference newcomer Western Illinois.
UT Martin kept the Leatherneck defense on their toes with 30 total shots in the first all-time meeting between the two schools. This marked the first time the Skyhawks launched 30 attempts since 2019 when they recorded 31 shots against Eastern Illinois.
Brooke Kala had a career-high seven shots to go along with her first goal of the season which equalized the match in the 75th minute. Peyton Cook (five), Allie Buchmann (four), Rachel Okoro (three), Izzy Patterson (two), Jordan Bailey (two), Jenny Enriquez (two), Ella Rucka (one), Catey Hunt (one), Gwen Walters (one), Makayla Robinson (one) and Abbie McHenry (one) all chipped in to the offensive pressure.
Goalkeeper Poppy Bastock made four saves with only one goal allowed while facing 10 shots. Shayla Addington, Walters, Bastock and Hunt played the full 90 minutes for the Skyhawks.
In the first half, UT Martin held Western Illinois scoreless for 44 minutes until Kayla Turner sent a high shot to the net that ricocheted off Bastock’s glove and trickled in to give the Leathernecks the lead at halftime.
The Skyhawks would inch closer towards the equalizer and found it in the 75th minute when Kala scored a screamer off the crossbar to beat Western Illinois goalkeeper Isabel Navas Rodriguez.
Following the goal UT Martin would continue its offensive push but wouldn’t get the winner past Rodriguez in the final moments.
“Incredible goal off an excellent effort by Brooke to get us back to level,” said Skyhawk head coach Mike Varga. “We stuck to our game plan today and executed well, which resulted in us getting multiple chances on goal. We just need to have a higher percentage of our shots being on frame which we are more than capable of.”
UT Martin will travel to play Lindenwood on Thursday, Oct. 5 in St. Charles, Mo. First touch is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
