By Connor Link, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
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MOREHEAD, Ky. – After scoring four unanswered goals to climb out of a 2-0 deficit, Morehead State soccer (2-7-1, 1-2-1 Ohio Valley Conference) picked up its first conference win in a 4-2 victory over UT Martin (4-7-2, 2-2 OVC) on Sunday afternoon at Jayne Stadium.
"That was a complete team win," said MSU head coach
Warren Lipka. "I'm so happy for them, and I couldn't be any prouder."
Following a scoreless 26 minutes to open the first half, UT Martin converted two goals in the span of two minutes to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. However,
Samantha Damante's rocket into the upper corner of the net via an indirect kick by
Marisa Lavatori opened the floodgates for the Eagles in 35th minute.
Down 2-1, sophomore midfielder
Julia Hodge scored the only unassisted goal of the match at the 40-minute mark.
Ashley Ritchie poured in one more off an assist from
Shelby Huddleston almost immediately after, giving Morehead State its third goal in eight minutes, as well as a 3-2 halftime lead.
Junior goalkeeper
Michelle Washburn, who faced 18 total shots and logged four saves on the day, anchored an MSU defense that held the Skyhawks in check throughout the final period. In the 74th minute,
Morgan Treser capitalized on a feed from
Dani Wilson by heading the ball past UT Martin goalkeeper Erica Myers for the lone second-half score of the contest.
Damante and
Abby Timm led the Eagles with two shot attempts apiece, as Hodge, Ritchie, Treser, Lavatori,
Tayler Stivers,
Cara Maher, and
Holly Logsdon each contributed to Morehead State's tally of 11 shots as a team.
Sunday also marked the Eagles' annual senior day ceremony, honoring both Lavatori and Stivers prior to kick-off. Stivers, a fifth-year senior from Brownsburg, Ind., is the only player on the Morehead State roster to have earned an OVC Tournament championship in 2013.
"I owe it all to my teammates," Stivers said of her illustrious career. "They're going through all the same work, too. It was just great to finally put it all together today. We finally got done what we wanted to get done."
With a win in tow, the Eagles will travel to Edwardsville, Ill. for the first of five consecutive road games through the month of October. Morehead State will kick off at SIU Edwardsville (4-5-1, 2-1 OVC) on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.