PATTERSON’S FIRST COLLEGIATE GOAL LIFTS SKYHAWK SOCCER TO 1-0 TRIUMPH AT SIUE

Sunday, October 10

Edwardsville, Ill.

2:00 PM

UT Martin

8-4-1, 4-1-0

SIUE

5-5-0, 2-1-0

UT Martin

SIUE

PATTERSON’S FIRST COLLEGIATE GOAL LIFTS SKYHAWK SOCCER TO 1-0 TRIUMPH AT SIUE

10/10/2021 5:18:00 PM | Soccer

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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Graduate goalkeeper Erica Myers officially landed herself in elite company with the 21^st career shutout of her five-year tenure on Sunday afternoon, while freshman midfielder Izzy Patterson compiled her very first strike in a Skyhawk uniform during the same match, helping the University of Tennessee at Martin soccer squad scoop up a 1-0 road victory over preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorite SIUE.

A major confidence booster for UTM following a surprising double-overtime upset at the hands of Tennessee Tech four days earlier, the Skyhawks retained their spot at the summit of the current OVC standings while knocking one of their strongest contenders for that throne down a peg. The fourth time in 2021 holding the opponent scoreless for all 90 minutes, the clutch road win grants UT Martin three more points towards their OVC resume for 12 total, pushing their league record to 4-1 behind an overall mark of 8-4-1.

Seizing the opportunity when it mattered the most in the 65^th minute, Patterson's game-winner – booted in thanks to a first-time assist from junior Sophia Mankowski - nearly halfway through the second period provided the visitors with just enough juice to ride out the 1-0 final decision, the program's ninth all-time victory over the Cougars since becoming conference mates and the third time gaining the W when playing in Edwardsville.

Constantly keeping SIUE guessing as to who would step up next for the second-period dagger, the Skyhawks' offensive unit continued its progression with a 12-10 edge in shot attempts, floating in seven of those tries once both teams emerged from the halftime break still scoreless. The fourth look at the net of the second frame proved to be the difference-maker, as Patterson drilled her second shot of the day to subsequently hand UTM their fourth OVC W in five such meetings.

Myers and the Skyhawk defense was just as instrumental in preserving the victory as Mankowski and Patterson were on the other side of the field, with the graduate keeper halting five would-be Cougar scores, exactly half of SIUE's shot output for the afternoon. Moving her career accumulation to 308 saves, the school leader in matches played (now at 77) officially moves into a tie with Mariah Klenke (2011-14) for most shutouts in program history at 21.

Dating back to the shortened spring campaign, UT Martin has emerged victorious in eight out of their last nine regular season conference contests, gaining a measure of revenge on the Cougars after seeing elimination in last season's OVC Tournament semifinal round at SIUE's doing.

Once taking the lead for good with 25 minutes remaining, the Skyhawks would only allow their league foe one more shot attempt at the 78:46 tab, denied in the bottom left corner of the box by Myers for her fifth and final save. SIUE's Bella Henderson took the loss at GK for the other side, keeping the Cougars a sizable length away from UTM in the conference standings with only three more dates left on the regular season schedule.

Jill Hildreth, Emely van der Vliet, and Brooke Kala all recorded at least a pair of shots in the one-goal decision to match Patterson. Through the first five matches against league opponents, the navy and orange have outgunned the other 11 players on the field for a difference of 11-3, now turning their attention to the next two bouts at home after a week's long rest.

Last season's conference champion Murray State awaits UT Martin seven days from now in a matchup that could give the Skyhawks an even more sizable advantage in the OVC standings should the result lean in their favor. In a similar manner to head coach Phil McNamara's club, the Racers were also victorious on Sunday by a 1-0 margin over Morehead State, bringing them back to .500 in conference territory at 2-2 (7-6 overall).

Hoping to turn around recent misfortunes in the series, UTM will look to put an end to a three-game losing skid when going head-to-head with Murray State, most recently dropping a 2-1 overtime decision seven months ago. At only 4-8 against the Racers when competing at Skyhawk Field, coach McNamara and co. will be eagerly awaiting the result of MSU's incoming contest with SIUE this coming Thursday before battling them at home on October 17^th.

With each conference affair gaining more importance in the latter stages of the year, first touch next Sunday in Martin is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.