The Skyhawk soccer team began OVC play this past weekend on Friday, Sept. 20, and improved their overall record to 3-3-4.
UTM opened conference play against the Eastern Illinois University Panthers (EIU) Friday night.
The Skyhawks and Panthers both came into the matchup with sub .500 records. EIU, after defeating Chicago State 3-1 for their first regular season win of the season a game prior, came into Martin with a 1-4-0 record.
UTM’s record early in the season wasn’t much more encouraging at 2-3-3, a far cry from 2018’s pre-OVC record of 5-2-0.
This time around, the end result was identical to last season’s UTM and EIU matchup – a scoreless stalemate.
Though the game went without any goal-scoring, UTM took a healthy amount of shots on goal. The Skyhawks fired off 31 total shots compared to EIU’s 10. The first half saw UTM outshoot EIU 14-1.
Junior goalkeeper Erica Meyers guarded the net that night and notched her 10th career shutout. Myers made three saves on EIU’s 10 total shots.
Myers was only outdone by EIU goalkeeper Sarah Teteak, who made 16 saves and earned her 16th career shutout.
Junior forward Alice Adams led the team in shots with six total shots, including three shots on goal. Other UTM players also registered shots on goal, including senior forward Nicole Collins (2), sophomore forward Hendrikje Baurmann (3), freshman midfielder Isabel Almarsdottir (2) and junior midfielder Blare Gerido (3).
Two days later on Sunday, Sept. 22, conference foe Belmont traveled over to Martin to test the Skyhawks in their second OVC match of the season.
The Skyhawks wasted no time getting on the board this time around. Near the end of the first minute of play, Baurmann notched her second goal of the season against Belmont GK Lily Herman to give UTM a 1-0 lead (and final score of the game).
The shot total remained in UTM’s favor against Belmont. The Skyhawks outshot the Bruins 16-11, but the stout defensive play and performance of Myers sealed the deal on UTM’s first OVC win of the season.
Myers came up big with five saves and her 11th career shutout, putting her in second place in the program for shutouts, according to Sports Information.
With an improved record of 3-3-4, the Skyhawks will look to avenge last year’s OVC Championship Tournament defeat against Murray State (4-5 overall) on Sept. 27 in Murray, Kentucky.
