Soccer Inches Closer to OVC Title Opportunity With 2-1 Decision Over Tennessee Tech

BOX SCORE

MOREHEAD, Ky.  -- It had all the excitement and drama of a No. 1 versus No. 2 league matchup as the Morehead State Soccer team outlasted Tennessee Tech Thursday afternoon for a 2-1 positive result at the MSU Soccer Field.

The Eagles, ranked No. 2 in the OVC, improved to 6-5-5 overall and tied their most Ohio Valley Conference wins since 2015, improving to 5-1-2. MSU handed TTU (entering as the No.1 team in the table) its first loss in conference play, dropping the Golden Eagles to 7-5-4 and 6-1-1.

The scenario is set up for the MSU Eagles to claim the OVC regular season title, No. 1 seed in the tournament and host role for the final four weekend with a win Sunday at SIUE and either a loss or tie by Tech at home against Little Rock.

MSU defender Sarah Faloon got her team on the scoreboard first. At 41:34, Faloon connected her head on a free kick from fellow defender Gracen Houck and edged it past TTU goalkeeper Maggie Conrad. Faloon's header was her second goal of the year, while Houck was awarded her first career assist.

Holding a 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute, MSU's Kate Larbes was taken down from behind in the penalty box on a run to the goal and awarded a penalty chance. Senior forward Hadley Cytron took the PK and buried it in the corner for her first goal of 2023 for a 2-0 upper-hand.

The Golden Eagles cut their deficit in half at 68:31. While trying to clear it from their own defensive zone, MSU's ball careened off Tech's Katie Toney, with the trajectory taking it over the head of MSU goalkeeper Erin Gibbs. Toney was credited with the goal.

TTU appeared to tie the match minutes later, but Yao Giada Zhou's goal was reversed after a late offside call was deemed the appropriate action. 

Morehead State held the offensive advantage in shots, 19-15, while TTU had three more shots on goal, 8-5. Gibbs kept her team in the match with seven saves, including three diving, punched-away attempts destined for the back of the net. Tech put the pressure on in the final half with 11 of its 15 shots.

MSU will travel to SIUE for the aforementioned regular-season finale on Sunday. Match time is 3 p.m. ET.