Skyhawks Fall In Season Opener At North Alabama

Thursday, August 15

Florence, Ala.

7 p.m.

UT Martin

0-1-0, 0-0-0

North Alabama

1-0-0, 0-0-0

UT Martin

North Alabama

Skyhawks Fall In Season Opener At North Alabama

8/15/2024 10:06:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Stats PDF

FLORENCE, Ala.- The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team fought hard in the season opener this evening but fell to North Alabama by a score of 1-0.

The Skyhawks were led in shots by Izzy Patterson and Peyton Cook with two attempts apiece while both of Cook's tries were on goal. Makayla Robinson, Brooke Kala (one shot on goal) and Nyeemah Prescod-Beckles (one shot on goal) each fired a shot apiece while freshman Unni Wolf put a shot on goal.

Mac Titus made her Skyhawk debut in goal and snared five saves against 11 North Alabama attempts. Parker Gelinas, Allie Buchmann, Shayla Addington and Patterson played the full 90 minutes for UT Martin.

Titus made four saves in the opening half alone, all coming during a 25-minute stretch. The Skyhawk offense came out aggressive as both Wolf and Cook let the first two shots on goal of the match fly in the first 18:25 but the match was knotted in a scoreless tie at the break.

However, North Alabama punched through in the 64^th minute with a goal from Giada Aldini. The stingy UT Martin defense held the Lions to only two more shot attempts the rest of the way.

Cook (78^th minute) and Kala (84^th minute) were each responsible for a shot on goal to potentially even the score late in the contest but the Lions came away with a pair of saves.

"It was obviously a disappointing outcome but there were plenty of positives to come from the match," Skyhawk head coach Mike Varga said. "Defensively, I thought we were organized and were up to the task. We created a couple of chances early that we will normally finish, and early goals change games, but it wasn't our day on the attacking end. North Alabama is a quality team that was penalty kicks away from advancing to the NCAA Tournament last fall. Honestly, it was a pretty even match and they took chances well with a shot off the post that went in. Now it's on to our home opener on Sunday."

The Skyhawks will host Southern Illinois on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.