Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Tennessee Tech
Racers tie TTU in OVC soccer battle
10/22/2004 5:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
With the score tied with 1:02 remaining in the first overtime period, MSU's career scoring leader, senior forward Theresa Reedy, was awarded a penalty kick after she was fouled in the goal box. Everyone was stunned when her shot bounced off the left post to continue the game, still tied.
"I was aiming close to the post but not at it," Reedy said. "I thought it was going in."
In the second 10-minute overtime period, the Racers again had an excellent chance to win the game only two minutes after Reedy's miss. This time, Lacey Latimer had a chance less than 20 yards in front, but Tech keeper Loretta McNamee made a great save.
"The keeper was coming at me so hard that I had to take shot earlier than I wanted," Latimer said, "but we had a bunch of chances to score in the second half and overtime."
The rest of the overtime period ran out, and the Racers had to settle for a tie.
The first half of the match saw Tennessee Tech (6-6-4, 1-3-3 OVC) control the game, spending much of the time attacking in the Racers' half of the field. Tech held a 1-0 lead at the break. Jill Burns booted in her 10th goal of the season on a drive through midfield to give Tech a 1-0 lead at the 19:00 mark of the first half.
Murray State (7-8-1, 4-2-1 OVC) tied the game when sophomore forward Kara Carlile kicked in her fourth goal of the season on a pass from junior forward Jessica Fioranelli in the 64th minute.
Reedy had a team-high five shots, while Carlile had a team-high three shots on goal. Burns had eight shots and four on-goal.
In goal, Annie Fortier (5-5-1, 4-2-1 OVC) turned away nine saves, while McNamee stopped seven. Both goalkeepers played all 110 minutes in the net.
Racers head coach Mike Minielli liked the way his team battled, but was troubled by an average first half.
"We can't have any lapses like that, let alone playing an entire first half that way," Minielli said. "When we get to the tournament, you're out if you slip up, so we've got to play hard every minute of the game."
This time of the season, a team wants to be peaking.
"We haven't peaked yet," Latimer said, "but that's good. We want to peak at the OVC Tournament, and I think we will."
Murray State hosts Austin Peay on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be the final home game of the season, and the Racers will have its Senior Day celebration at Cutchin Field.
OVC TOURNAMENT: Murray State locked up either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the OVC Championship Tournament, meaning the Racers will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, Nov. 2. The opponent and game time are to be determined.
After Friday night's action, Eastern Illinois (6-1-1 OVC) leads with 19 points, Samford (6-1-0) has 18 points, Murray State (4-2-1) has 13 points, Morehead State (4-3-0) has 12 points, Jacksonville State (3-3-2) and Southeast Missouri State (3-3-2) have 11 points apiece, Tennessee Tech (1-3-3) has five points, Tennessee-Martin (1-6-0) has three points and Austin Peay (0-6-1) has one point. Teams are awarded three points for a win and one point for a tie. The top six teams qualify for the OVC Championship Tournament.
The OVC Tournament field of six is set, as the top six teams have clinched berths in to the tournament, but the seeds are yet to be determined, based on the outcome of Sunday's games.
On Sunday, Austin Peay plays at Murray State, Tennessee Tech plays at Tennessee-Martin and Morehead State plays at Samford.
