Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University soccer team dropped its second straight game on Sunday afternoon, losing at Ohio Valley Conference foe UT Martin, 3-0, behind a pair of goals by Saphyr Coombs-James.

EKU, which had won four of its last five games coming into this weekend, is now 7-6-2 (3-2-1 OVC), while UTM improves to 8-5-3 (5-1-1 OVC).

Coombs-James struck early and often, finding the back of the net on a header just 10 minutes into the game, before adding another goal in the 26th minute to give the Skyhawks a 2-0 advantage at halftime. She then assisted Midori Sera on an insurance goal in the 65th minute to make it 3-0.

“We weren’t very good on the day,” head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. “We started the game flat and after giving up two first half goals we knew we had to dig ourselves out of a hole.”

UTM outshot EKU, 22-11, in the game, although the Colonels had more opportunities in the second half. Junior Brittany Nomady led EKU with three shots on the day, one of which was on goal.

Senior Deja Tennon, junior Lauren Fant and sophomores #Emily D’Italia and Paige Larkin# all went the distance on an EKU backline that, before Sunday, had not allowed multiple goals in 14 straight OVC regular season games.

Freshman goalkeeper Erika Wolfer played all 90 minutes in net for the Colonels and made a career-high eight saves.

EKU returns to action next weekend with a pair of games against SIUE at Eastern Illinois at home.

“It was a tough weekend overall,” Basalyga added. “But, we are still in a good spot in the conference and will be looking to bounce back next weekend at home.”