MARTIN, Tenn.– The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team used timely goals and stout defense to bring home its first win of the 2024 season, defeating Indiana State by a 2-1 margin this evening.
The Skyhawks (1-1-2) saw freshman Unni Wolf (37th minute, unassisted) score her first career goal while Makayla Robinson (56th minute, assist from Izzy Patterson and Peyton Cook) drove home the game-winner just a minute after Indiana State (3-1-0) got on the scoreboard. UT Martin won the shot battle by a 26-15 count and placed 13 of its attempts on goal.
The season-high 26 shots were achieved by an aggressive attack from Patterson (team-best eight shots, four on goal), Robinson (five shots, two on goal), Wolf (four shots, two on goal), Cook (four shots, three on goal), Brooke Kala (two shots), Parker Gelinas (one shot on goal), Nyeemah Prescod-Beckles (one shot on goal) and Alberte Amby (one shot).
The UT Martin backline denied chance after chance that the Sycamores threw at them and goalkeeper Mac Titus wound up with eight pivotal saves. Anna Østergaard Ibsen, Shayla Addington, Ella Rucka, Gelinas, Wolf, Patterson and Titus played the full 90 minutes to pace the Skyhawks.
The first half belonged to UT Martin as it outshot Indiana State 15-1 and cashed in with Wolf’s long-range snipe to the bottom right corner. After halftime, the Sycamores would put pressure on the Skyhawks and finally broke through with a bullet off the boot of Mackenzie Kent in the 55th minute. Cook and Patterson responded quickly when they each contributed on passes to Robinson, who converted on a one-on-one opportunity for her 11th career goal and fourth game-winner in a UT Martin uniform.
Titus came up with big saves in the 75th, 77th and 80th minutes to keep the Skyhawk advantage at 2-1. The senior out of Chelsea, Ala. also tacked on big stops in the 85th and 87th minutes before the Sycamores had one final chance with 11 seconds left. However, Rucka denied a pass that was lofted into the box and was able to clear the ball as the final seconds ran off.
“This was an excellent team win for us tonight,” Skyhawk head coach Mike Varga said. “Indiana State has had a lot of success early this season and we knew we had to play well. The girls were up to the task. Our focus has been the final third and tonight we were able to keep the pressure on their backs and create some quality chances. Unni played well and got her first collegiate goal in a first half that we dominated. The second half went back and forth, and they were able to finish to draw even, but our response was wonderful with Makayla scoring the go-ahead goal 20 seconds later.”
Next up, UT Martin will travel to rival Murray State on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m.
