Box Score BOX SCORE

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Freshman Devon Saini’s team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 53rd minute proved to be the game-winner as the Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team improved to 2-0 in conference play by beating host Tennessee Tech, 2-1, on Friday afternoon.

Sophomore Nicole Donnelly, who led the Colonels with a program-record six goals in 2010, put EKU (4-6-1, 2-0-0 OVC) ahead in just the fifth minute with her first goal of the season, receiving a pass from junior Deja Tennon and firing a shot from the right side of the box into the top left corner of the goal.

“Our first goal was off a great ball from Deja, and was the result of something we’ve really been working on in practice,” head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. “It was great to see practice translate in a game.”

TTU (3-8-1, 0-3-0 OVC) responded late in the first half, however, as Andrea Meloff received a pass from Kris Cambron and popped a shot over freshman keeper Annie Wickett’s head to tie the score, 1-1, in the 29th minute.

“It was great to get on the board early, but I do think we settled in after that and allowed Tennessee Tech to get back into the game,” Basalyga said. “We made some tactical changes at halftime, though, and kept plugging away, and came away with another great road win.”

Saini sealed that win in the 53rd minute when she rebounded a shot by sophomore Lauren Fant that hit that post and placed it perfectly into the upper-left corner of the goal to give the Colonels a lead they would not relinquish.

“We found two different ways to score today,” Donnelly said. “Our first goal was a good combination between Deja and I, and our second goal was a more scrappy play by Devon. We never gave up, and we found a way to win.”

In an evenly-matched game in which both teams tallied 11 shots, four Colonels – Donnelly, Fant, senior Heather Bruce and freshman Kaylynn Brown – led a balanced EKU attack with two shots apiece.

Ellie Iaciofano paced TTU with four shots in the game.

Wickett made five saves and has now allowed just one goal in 180 minutes of OVC play. Fant, senior Stephanie Murray, sophomore #Emily D’Italia and freshman Paige Larkin# all went the distance on the Colonel backline in the road win.

“It’s huge to get wins on the road, especially because we’re such a young team.” Murray said. “For a lot of these girls, this is their first true road weekend, so it’s great for their confidence to get the Friday win.”

It is the second consecutive year EKU has jumped out to an undefeated OVC start, as the Colonels began conference play 3-0 last season before losing four of their last five games. The team is determined not to let the focus slip away again.

“We started 3-0 last year, but then got a little complacent,” Murray said. “This year, we have to live in the moment and take it game-by-game.”

Donnelly echoed Murray’s statement.

“We have stay focused,” Donnelly said. “We have to approach every game like we’re 0-0 and approach every practice ready to train, and it will all come together.”

EKU continues its road swing on Sunday when the Colonels travel to face Jacksonville State at 3:00 p.m. EST.