TRIO OF SECOND HALF GOALS LIFT UT MARTIN SOCCER PAST EASTERN KENTUCKY IN OVC SEMIFINALS

Friday, November 2

Martin, Tenn.

7 P.M.

UT Martin

15-2-1

No. 4 Eastern Kentucky

8-8-4

Eastern Kentucy

UT Martin

TRIO OF SECOND HALF GOALS LIFT UT MARTIN SOCCER PAST EASTERN KENTUCKY IN OVC SEMIFINALS

11/2/2018 11:13:00 PM | Soccer

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MARTIN, Tenn. – In a result eerily similar to its regular season matchup against Eastern Kentucky, the University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team received big plays down the stretch to earn a 3-2 victory over the Colonels in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship semifinals round at Skyhawk Field.

Exactly two weeks after a 3-1 home victory where the Skyhawks scored three second-half goals against the same Eastern Kentucky squad, UT Martin (15-2-1) once again needed an offensive surge over the final 45 minutes. The Skyhawks continued to pelt Colonel goalkeeper Zoe Aguirre with shots – holding a 36-8 advantage in that category, including an 18-6 margin in shots on goal – until breaking through for three goals in a combined 9:37.

Kaci Mitchell (63^rd minute), Samantha Kelly (68^th minute) and Amy McGivern (73^rd minute) each found the back of the net for UT Martin, who extended its unbeaten streak to 13 matches with the win. A dozen different Skyhawks attempted a shot this evening, led by six shots apiece out of McGivern and Skylor Keane.

In goal, sophomore Erica Myers recorded four crucial saves – three of which came during a scoreless first half. The vaunted UT Martin defense limited Eastern Kentucky to only three shots in the opening half.

"I thought we came out flying tonight – it might have been the best first 45 minutes we had all year," Skyhawk head coach Phil McNamara said. "Then one minute into the second half, you're down 1-0 and all of a sudden you are chasing the game but we had some phenomenal performances. We showed a different level of maturity tonight – even two weeks ago when we were a goal down, we panicked a little bit. Tonight, we got the ball out wide, on the left and the right and caused problems all night. I thought we were absolutely fantastic tonight."

Despite their best efforts, the Skyhawks couldn't solve Aguirre in the first half. The Colonel goalkeeper made eight saves over the opening 45 minutes as UT Martin generated 15 total shots in that span. Attempts by Alice Adams (crossbar) and Keane (post) nearly put the Skyhawks on top in the 23^rd and 25^th minutes, respectively. However, the first stanza ended in a scoreless tie.

Just 31 seconds into the second stanza, Monica Rios put the Colonels on the scoreboard with a lofted goal from 25 yards out.

Nine more UT Martin shots followed until Mitchell notched her second goal of the season, knotting the score at 1-all after taking a cross from Adams and burying it past Aguirre from 10 yards out.

Kelly followed with her go-ahead goal after receiving a feed from Danae Kaldaridou and drawing Aguirre away from the net. It was the fourth goal of the season for the junior out of Dungannon, Northern Ireland.

UT Martin went ahead 3-1 after McGivern tapped in her league-leading 14^th goal of the season. The eventual game-winner occurred after McGivern emerged from a scrum in front of the net for a score from point-blank range.

Eastern Kentucky then turned up its offensive intensity, reeling off three shots in a four-plus minute span. The persistence paid off as Bailly Bounds provided a goal off a free kick with 14 seconds remaining but the Skyhawks were able to run out the clock and seal the victory.

UT Martin advances to the OVC Tournament championship game on Sunday, Nov. 4 against No. 2 seed Murray State, who defeated No. 3 Eastern Illinois by a 1-0 margin earlier today. First touch from Skyhawk Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.