University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
1-0-3
Virginia Tech
3-0-1
Vols Tie #7 Hokies, 1-1, In 2OT
August 30, 2015 | Soccer
Aug. 30, 2015
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Mackenzie Gouner scored in the 69th minute, Virginia Tech scored an 86th-minute equalizer and Tennessee earned a 1-1 draw against the No. 7 Hokies on Sunday at Thompson Field.
The Hokies (3-0-1) outshot the Vols (1-0-3), 23-11, and had nine corner kicks to UT's three.
Julie Eckel (1-0-3) turned in a gutsy performance in goal. She was credited with five saves and withstood Virginia Tech surges late in both overtime periods.
UT came close to a winner in the first overtime period when Amy Neal's 93rd-minute header in the box hit the crossbar.
In the 86th minute, Kristina Diana sent a shot to the right upper 90 to even the game at 1-1 and force overtime.
Gouner scored off of a beautiful pass from Anna McClung in the 69th minute to give the Vols a 1-0 lead. McClung took the ball up the left side and sent a pass through the box to find Gouner near the right post for a score at the center of the net. The goal was the first of Gouner's collegiate career.
The Vols came up about a foot short of scoring in the 51st minute. Anna Bialczak broke loose on a counter attack up the left side and found Neal in the middle of the box for a shot that bounced off the right post.
The Hokies had a 9-5 shot advantage in the first half and each team had two corner kicks.
In the 44th minute, Christine Creighton sent a cross in from the right corner and Nicole Seaman connected near the six-yard box, but Virginia Tech goalkeeper Kaylyn Smith (3-0-1) was there for the save.
Tennessee had two good attacks in the first 13 minutes. Eleven minutes in, Susan Ferguson sent a ball into the box and over the center back's and goalkeeper's heads, but the Vols' forwards could not locate the loose ball in time. Katie Cousins fired a shot in the 13th minute from 20 yards out that went wide right.
For the second-straight match Eckel was tested early. Just over a minute in, Virginia Tech's Murielle Tiernan ripped a shot from 25 yards out to the center of the goal and Eckel was able to punch it over the crossbar.
UT returns to Regal Stadium this week to host Navy on Sept. 4 and Murray State on Sept. 6.
Team Stats
Mackenzie Gouner
Assisted By: Anna McClung
on a cross from #37
68:55
Kristina Diana
Assisted By: Laila Gray
GOAL by VT Kristina Diana, Assist by Laila Gray.
86:00
