BOX SCORE

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team dropped its second straight OVC match in overtime on Friday evening, falling 2-1 at Tennessee Tech. With the loss, the Colonels fall to 2-7-2 (0-2 OVC), while the Golden Eagles (2-9-1, 1-0-1 OVC) pick up their first conference victory of the season.

“It’s disheartening to lose another match in overtime,” junior defender Eva Hollenberg said. “But I think the team is confident enough to bounce back on Sunday.”

The Colonels got off to a fast start as senior forward Kayla Swearingen took a pass from Hollenberg in just the 11th minute of the match and scored her team-high third goal of the season. The senior’s EKU-record ninth goal of her career gave the Colonels a 1-0 lead.

“We came out in the first half and really pushed the tempo,” Hollenberg said. “But we got somewhat panicky in the second half.”

Just two minutes into the second half, Tennessee Tech defender Taren Brown evened the score with a penalty kick.

The match would remain knotted until, in the second minute of overtime, Tech’s Rebecca Ross received a pass from Ashley Smith and fired a shot past EKU goalkeeper Stephanie Lynch for the game-winner.

Despite the loss, the Colonels remain confident they can compete for a spot in the OVC Tournament.

“We know what we need to do,” Swearingen said. “We know we can win. We just need to finish our opportunities and capitalize on the attack.”

While only scoring one goal, EKU dominated the shot total all night, out shooting the Golden Eagles 22-13. It was the Colonels’ highest single-game shot total of the season.

Lynch played all 91 minutes of the match and made six saves on the night.

“We’re playing good soccer,” sophomore forward Alex Hartwick said. “And we have players that can score goals. We just need to do it. We’re going to be fine, though. We’re going to get through this.”

The Colonels return to action at home on Sunday against Austin Peay. The match will get underway at 1:00 p.m.