By Davis Gregory, UT Martin Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.- In a hard-fought battle with Ohio Valley Conference leader Tennessee Tech, the University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team came up just short, 3-2.
UT Martin saw goals scored from Makayla Robinson and Rachel Okoro while Peyton Cook recorded her first assist of the season. Cook led the Skyhawks in shots with four and Robinson finished with two attempts, and both were targeted on frame. Izzy Patterson (two), Catey Hunt (one) and Rachel Okoro (one) each recorded a shot in the contest.
Goalkeeper Poppy Bastock made a season-high 10 saves facing 31 Golden Eagle attempts. UT Martin received full 90-minute performances from Bastock, Patterson, Hunt, Gwen Walters, Allie Buchmann and Shayla Addington.
In the first 45-minutes, the Skyhawks were able to keep the OVC’s highest scoring offense off the board with the score being 0-0 at halftime.
After the break, Tennessee Tech would be fouled in the box at the 54-minute mark and turn a Yao Giada Zhou penalty kick into a 1-0 lead.
UT Martin would respond 15 minutes later when Robinson received a perfect through ball and capitalized to get the equalizer for the Skyhawks. Three minutes later, Cook set up Okoro who gave UT Martin its first lead of the match with a deflection off a Golden Eagle defender.
Tennessee Tech would go on the counterattack and in the 77th minute Giada Zhou found the back of the net for the second time to continue the back-and-forth battle. Then in the final moments, Bailey Taylor broke through for the Golden Eagles and gave them the game-winning goal in the 88th minute.
“That was an exciting match to watch but frustrating for us not to come away with at least a point,” said Skyhawk head coach Mike Varga. “Tennessee Tech is an excellent team and we went toe-to-toe with them. We’ll learn from this and get better.”
UT Martin will return home to face Southern Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information
