The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team needed just one goal to upend Atlantic-10 Conference power Saint Louis on Friday night at Robert R. Hermann Stadium, prevailing 1-0 in the final non-conference match before Ohio Valley Conference play.
UT Martin (2-6-1) was led by senior forward Abi Sanvee who converted on her lone shot attempt of the evening, scoring her second goal of the season. Freshman Aiofe Lennon led the Skyhawks with four shot attempts, placing two on goal. Juniors Michelle Calmeyn, Amy Maksimowicz and Dominika Conc, along with freshman Ellie Myrick, each tallied one shot attempt.
Goalkeeper Mariah Klenke tallied her third clean sheet of the season, setting a new UTM career record by registering her 11th shutout of the junior’s career. Klenke’s 11 career shutouts surpassed Lauren MacKenzie (2010-11) and Johanna Rathbun’s (2007-08) previous career marks of 10. The Highland, Ill. native registered seven saves on the evening.
The Skyhawks registered their first shot of the match in just the fourth minute as Hanna Benben saved Calmeyn’s opening attempt. Lennon quickly followed with her first attempt of the night just minutes later at the 9:27 mark.
Klenke garnered her first save of the match at the 13:24 mark before seeing an onslaught of attempts come from the Billiken offense. Saint Louis tallied six consecutive shots in the first period, but Klenke was the hero of the evening, snagging two more saves.
The Skyhawks cranked up the intensity as clock ticked into the 80th minute, firing five of the team’s nine shots in the final 10 minutes. Lennon fired her second shot on goal, having her attempt blocked before Conc and Maksimowicz each tallied attempts of their own, all in the 82nd minute.
It was UTM’s senior Sanvee who stole the show in the 83rd minute. Sanvee collected a loose ball following a corner kick and delivered a straight-on shot from eight yards away for the game-winner, her second of the season.
The Skyhawks will look to build momentum as they shift turn their focus to OVC play next Friday. In a rematch of the 2012 OVC Tournament title game, UTM will travel to rival Austin Peay on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
