CHARLESTON, Ill.– The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team willed its way to a 1-0 shutout win against Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Illinois at Lakeside Field.
Izzy Patterson’s free kick goal in the 36th minute proved to be the difference in the match as the Skyhawks (4-9-3, 3-5 OVC) secured their second consecutive shutout victory. Peyton Cook led UT Martin in shots with four (two on goal) while Makayla Robinson (two shots), Nyeemah Prescod-Beckles (two shots, one shot on goal), Abbie McHenry (one shot on goal), Alberte Amby (one shot on goal) and Brooke Kala (one shot) also helped contribute to the offense.
Goalkeeper Mac Titus locked down her third shutout of the season by making four saves against 13 shots. Titus played the full match between the pipes along with Shayla Addington, Parker Gelinas, Ella Rucka, Patterson, McHenry and Kala.
McHenry and Cook applied pressure on the Panther defense with shots on goal in the first 12-plus minutes.
After Titus stopped an Eastern Illinois (5-7-5, 3-3-2 OVC) shot on goal opportunity in the 32nd minute, Patterson came through with the eventual game-winner, finding the back of the net for her career-best fourth goal of the season.
Prescod-Beckles managed a shot on goal in the 40th minute before Titus ensured the Skyhawks took a 1-0 lead into the half, snagging a pair of saves in a 25-second span with under five minutes to go before the intermission.
Amby came close to a goal in the 72nd minute but the Panthers came away with a team save. Cook added UT Martin’s final shot on goal in the 85th minute, which was saved by Eastern Illinois goalkeeper Ella Kratochvil.
Eastern Illinois came inches away from scoring the equalizer in the 84th and 90th minutes but Titus stopped the first shot-on-goal try and the Skyhawks notched a team save in the waning moments, bolting down three more points in the conference standings.
“That took a total team effort against a very good Eastern Illinois team,” UT Martin head coach Mike Varga said. “I thought our collective defending was very good. Mac came up big when needed and Izzy scored an incredible free kick – everyone worked their socks off today. That is the effort and organization we need for the rest of the season.”
The Skyhawks return home for the regular season finale and Senior Day on Sunday, Oct. 27, hosting Southeast Missouri at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
