SIUE women’s soccer unleashed a season-high 23 shots Friday night against visiting Tennessee Tech, but it was to no avail. It was the Golden Eagles who left with a 1-0 victory in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both schools.
Kayla Delgado / Photo by SIUE Sports Information
The loss snapped an eight-game undefeated streak for SIUE. The Cougars are now 6-2-2 overall and 0-1-0 in OVC play. The Golden Eagles improved to 3-7-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the OVC.
“The bottom line is you have to score,” SIUE Head Coach Derek Burton said. “You cannot win a game if you don’t score. We had plenty of chances but we just couldn’t get the ball over the line.”
Shannon Rountree netted the game-winner for Tech in the 21st minute of play. Her shot from 20 yards out slipped through the hands of SIUE goalkeeper Jennifer Pelley putting the Golden Eagles on top for good. The goals was the second of the year for Rountree. Ellie Iaciofano added her OVC-leading fourth assist on the play.
“That doesn’t happen. Even in practice,” Burton said of the play. “(Jen) just didn’t see it. The ball knuckled a little bit and she just didn’t get her hands behind the ball.”
SIUE finished the first half with 12 shots. The best chance came midway through the period when Kayla Delgado got her head on a cross from Samantha Jones. Delgado’s header hit the cross bar and bounced over the goal.
It was more of the same in the second half. The Cougars outshot Tennessee Tech 11-1 over the final 45 minutes yet came away empty handed.
“The game is cruel sometimes,” Burton said. “Just because you dominate a game doesn’t mean you win it.”
Kayla Delgado finished with a game-high six shots, including three on goal. Sarah Doggendorf and Michelle Auer each had five shots and two on goal. Auer and Doggendorf each had near goals in the second half.
Tech goalkeeper Jordan Brown made 10 saves to earn her second shutout of the year.
SIUE remains home to take on Belmont Sunday at Korte Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
“Sunday’s game cannot come soon enough,” Burton said. “We just have to believe in ourselves.”
