The UTM soccer team is once again headed to the final round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament after defeating SIU Edwardsville in overtime, 2-1.
“Credit to SIUE,” said head coach Phil McNamara. “They worked and battled us tonight. We tried to bring moments of quality to the game, but it was difficult due to their pressure, positioning and their style of play.”
Tory Pitts was able to sneak the ball behind Skyhawks’ keeper Mariah Klenke, her third goal of the tournament, in the 14th minute of the game. However, UTM responded with a goal of their own from Hannah Fessenden less than six minutes later, her first of the season.
After the game, McNamara stressed the importance of that early goal.
“It was vital,” said McNamara. “They scored first against us [last time we played] and we weren’t able to score the rest of the game. … To get that early goal was big time.”
In the second half, both had opportunities to score, but neither team came out with any points.
Less than five minutes into overtime, UTM’s Aofie Lennon scored the game-winning goal to lift the Skyhawks the OVC Tournament Finals.
“We thought we could have success on the right-hand side,” said McNamara. “I thought Aofie was on the bench the last 10 minutes of [regulation] and I thought that was an area where she could come in and give us fresh leg and she did. She made a great play”
Despite the victory and advancing the tournament finals, McNamara wasn’t very pleased with his team’s play.
“We’re very disappointed with the way we played, but sometime you’ve got to find a way to win when you don’t play your best and that’s what we’ve done. … On a night like tonight it’s all about getting the win and moving forward.”
The Skyhawks will play Morehead State on Sunday, Nov. 10, to decide the OVC conference champion.
