MACOMB, Ill.– The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team used two first-half goals to dispatch Ohio Valley Conference foe Western Illinois in a 2-0 shutout at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.
Nyeemah Prescod-Beckles (14th minute) and Makayla Robinson (45th minute) both scored unassisted goals to give the Skyhawks (3-9-3, 2-5 OVC) a crucial three points in the standings with the regular season winding down.
Robinson had a match-high four shots and Prescod-Beckles launched a team-best three shots on goal this afternoon. Izzy Patterson (three shots, one shot on goal), Peyton Cook (one shot on goal), Alberte Amby (one shot on goal) and Abbie McHenry (one shot) helped keep the pressure on the Western Illinois defense throughout the contest as UT Martin outshot the Leathernecks by a 13-10 margin.
Goalkeeper Mac Titus nailed down her second shutout in a Skyhawk uniform by making three saves against 10 shots. Titus played the full match along with Parker Gelinas, Ella Rucka, Shayla Addington, Brooke Kala, Patterson and Robinson.
UT Martin outshot the Leathernecks by an 8-3 margin in the opening half. The Skyhawks capitalized on their third shot on goal in the first 14 minutes when Prescod-Beckles scored on the far post with a spectacular shot. It was eventually the second career game-winning goal in a UT Martin uniform for the senior forward out of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
While the Skyhawk defense held Western Illinois to zero shots on goal in the first half, Robinson put the cherry on top of the first 45 minutes with her team-high fourth goal of the season – finding the back of the net off a deflection with 31 seconds left before the halftime break.
The Leathernecks (1-12-1, 1-5-1 OVC) would put chances on target in the 69th, 80th and 88th minutes but Titus was there to snare all three shots, securing a road conference win for UT Martin.
The Skyhawks will now get set for their final road match of the regular season, heading to Eastern Illinois this Sunday, Oct. 20. First touch from Charleston, Ill. is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
