FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech women's soccer team fell in it's opening match of the season Thursday evening, 3-2, to Indiana University Kokomo at Warrior Athletic Field.
The Warriors, who were playing the first home varsity competition of any Tech team since March 10 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, got off to a hot start as
Lily Rothert took a pass from senior classmate and longtime childhood friend
Kayla Saffran at the top of the box and drilled one into the back of the net from 18 yards out in the 21
st minute to put the Orange and Black on top first.
The rest of the opening half was scoreless with each team getting a shot off the crossbar while the Warriors had two stopped by Cougar keeper Erica Bolinger in the final five minutes of the half to keep it a 1-0 game.
The second half saw a flurry of scoring action with Brook Switzer scoring twice for the Cougars just five minutes apart while
Tayler Grunkemeyer notched her first collegiate goal in her first match in the 52
nd minute to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Switzer's second goal of the night came just a minute later to knot the match up at 2-2.
The match remained tied until the 69
th minute as Morgan Scruggs gave the Cougars the lead with a header goal following a volley pass from Mackenzie Gibbons. Both defenses held strong through the remainder of the game as each team only got one shot on frame in the final 20 minutes of play as the Cougars managed to pick up their first win of the season.
Ally Zenda finished the night with four saves in goal while Rothert had a match-high four shots on goal.
Tech (0-1-0)) returns to action on Tuesday, September 29 as they head to former NAIA and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) rival Trine University. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. from Weaver Soccer Field.
