UT MARTIN POSTS 4-0 VICTORY OVER JACKSONVILLE STATE ON SENIOR DAY

Sunday, October 27

Martin, Tenn.

2 p.m.

UT Martin

8-5-5, 6-2-2

Jacksonville State

4-14-0, 1-9

Jacksonville St.

UT Martin

UT MARTIN POSTS 4-0 VICTORY OVER JACKSONVILLE STATE ON SENIOR DAY

10/27/2019 5:35:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score PDF Postgame: McNamara Photo Gallery

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team put the finishing touches on a strong regular season campaign by clinching the No. 3 seed in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Soccer Championship with a decisive 4-0 victory over Jacksonville State.

The Skyhawks (8-5-5, 6-2-2 OVC) will now receive a bye into the tournament quarterfinals while playing host to the winner of No. 6 seed Belmont and No. 7 seed Austin Peay on Sunday, Nov. 3.

"I am absolutely delighted," UT Martin head coach Phil McNamara said. "We knew coming in that we might not be experienced enough to challenge for the regular season title with so many new faces. We have talked all year about targeting that third or fourth spot and we are exciting bout our achievement in that regard. We have to feel really good heading into the tournament having won four of our last five games. I think we have found our consistency right before the tournament and that's exciting."

Prior to today's contest, UT Martin honored its senior duo of Nicole Collins and Lexi Thomas while rewarding the tandem with a dominant victory. The Skyhawks would outshoot the Gamecocks by a final tally of 25 to seven while scoring four unanswered goals – including three in the second half.

"Nicole and Lexi have been absolutely fantastic student-athletes," McNamara said. "They haven't missed a beat in four years. They are great competitors, have great fitness and great ability. They have played a lot of minutes for us and obviously helped us win a championship last year. They are a small class but a very strong driving force for this team."

Gallery: (10/27/2019) Soccer vs. Jacksonville State

Sophomore Jill Hildreth got the Skyhawks on the board just before the half with a strike off a nice double assist from Lotte Koot and Skylar Boes. The Skyhawks would then quickly strike for another pair of scores in the opening minutes of the second half as Alice Adams drilled a shot past the keeper off an assist from Hendrikje Baurmann while Bella Roberts made it a three-score margin with a penalty kick goal just five minutes later. UT Martin would put the finishing touches on the afternoon in the 79th minute as freshman Sophia Mankowski scored her first career goal.

Junior goalkeeper Erica Myers was strong once again, tallying her fifth shutout of the season and 13th of her career. Myers would tally four saves in the contest while notching her 24th career victory.

Jacksonville State (4-14, 1-9 OVC) saw its season come to a close on Sunday afternoon. The Gamecocks would be led offensively by Cynthia Bagozzi who paced the team with three shots – including two on goal.

UT Martin will now wait to find out its next opponent before returning to action on Sunday, Nov. 3. Action from Skyhawk Field is scheduled to get underway at 2 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.