Panthers fall to Tennessee-Martin in overtime

Dominic Renzetti, Assistant Sports Editor

The Eastern women’s soccer team took Tennessee-Martin to overtime Sunday, but it was the Skyhawks that left with a 2-1 win.

Eastern got on the board first with red-shirt junior Chris Reed finding the back of the net off a header on a redirected save in the 10th minute. Allie Lakie and Meagan Radloff set up the goal.

The lead wouldn’t last long, as the Skyhawks responded in the 13th minute when Dominika Conc buried a shot from 35 yards deep to tie the match.

The match was scoreless for the next 80 minutes, with the Panthers heading to overtime for the second time in its last four matches.

In the 99th minute with time winding down in the first overtime period, Tennessee-Martin’s leading scorer Rianna Jarrett scored on a header from a corner kick to get the win.

“UT-Martin is usually a team that we struggle playing with, so it was good that we were able to at least go into overtime,” Radloff said. “It’s not what we wanted, but we took ‘em that far.”

Radloff was one of six seniors honored before the match along with Allie Lakie, Lauren Hoppensteadt, Madison Carter, Lauren Rusk and Ellen Campbell.

The Panthers haven’t beat Tennessee-Martin since 2011. With the loss, Eastern drops to 2-13-2 overall and 1-6-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Because of standing water on Lakeside Field, the match was again moved to the practice field.

“We’re kind of used to it,” Radloff said. “I hear comments from the other team saying how awful this field is with the bounces, but at least we’re more used to playing on it so it kind of gives us an advantage.”

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].