UTM scoring assault salvages tourney trip

STARKVILLE, Miss. — UT Martin scored less than 100 seconds into Sunday’s match against Mississippi Valley State and never let up, outshooting the opposition by a 32-4 margin in a 6-1 win to conclude the Bulldog Invitational.
The victory is the first for the Skyhawks (1-2) in 2012 and is also the first time that UT Martin has generated at least six goals since a 7-1 win at Lambuth on Sept. 24, 2007. The team also produced eight assists, tying a single-game school record that was set twice during the 2007 season (against Bacone on Sept. 14 and Christian Brothers on Sept. 16).
A total of 11 different Skyhawks accounted for at least one point as the six goals each came from a different player.
Abi Sanvee got things started with a goal just 98 seconds into the match, while Jaclyn Heckle (43rd minute), Saphyra Coombs-James (49th), Kendyl Wilson (55th), Midori Sera (60th) and Alyssa Curtis (69th) also found the back of the net today.
Wilson also added a pair of assists, as did Coombs-James, Dominika Conc, Lucy Pater, Ashley Reveiz, Jenna Merrill and Ashlie Watson.
Sophomore Mariah Klenke earned the victory in goal, making a pair of saves while playing the full 90 minutes.
After the conclusion of the match, Coombs-James, Wilson and Conc were named to the all-tournament squad.
In what would be a good omen for the Skyhawks, Sanvee’s goal was the first shot attempt of the match. Wilson sent a cross from the right side, which Sanvee volleyed in at the far post. It was Sanvee’s seventh career goal in a Skyhawk uniform.
UT Martin would attempt seven more shots before Mississippi Valley State would attempt its first of the match, which Klenke saved at the 25:45 mark.
Five more Skyhawk shots followed before another goal was added to the scoreboard. After a header by Merrill was partially saved, Heckle recovered the loose ball for a header goal at the 42:29 mark. Both Merrill and Watson were credited with assists on the play as UT Martin cruised to a 2-0 advantage at the halftime break.
Coombs-James came up with her second goal in as many matches early in the second half. The freshman received a cross from the left side and scooted a shot past the Devilette goalkeeper at the 48:50 mark. Pater and Reveiz each received an assist on the play.
That started a barrage of goals for the Skyhawks, who netted four goals in the second half alone. Wilson’s goal at the 54:26 mark came off a corner kick opportunity for UT Martin, as the senior struck from 17 yards out for her seventh career goal and second in as many matches.
The next goal came via Sera, who made the score 5-0 at the 59:39 mark. A pass across the box was put in at the far post for the senior out of San Francisco, Calif. Wilson and Coombs-James both assisted on the goal.
Mississippi Valley State got on the scoreboard at the 66:48 mark, but the Skyhawks answered right back with their sixth and final goal of the match. Conc delivered a pass across the box for a streaking Curtis, who would put in her first goal of the season and sixth of her young career at UT Martin.
In Saturday’s match, UTM held a halftime advantage and was in prime position to force overtime against SEC foe Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs came up with a late goal that resulted in a 3-2 Skyhawk loss.
UT Martin (0-2) led for nearly 38 minutes thanks to a goal by Kendyl Wilson in the 11th minute.
It was the seventh career goal for the senior out of Collierville.
Mississippi State tied the match in the 49th minute and went ahead in the 66th minute before the Skyhawks received a clutch play from a freshman for the equalizer.
Making her season debut, Coombs-James evened the score at 2-all with a header goal in the 79th minute. Just as momentum seemed to sway back in UT Martin’s favor, Mississippi State’s Elisabeth Sullivan netted her second goal of the match exactly 60 seconds after the Skyhawks tied the match that turned out to be the eventual game-winner.
Overall, UT Martin outshot Mississippi State by a 12-11 margin, putting four of its shots on goal. The Skyhawks displayed a balanced offensive attack as seven players attempted a shot but no player attempted more than two shots. In goal, sophomore Mariah Klenke made three stops while playing all 90 minutes.
The Skyhawks continue their five-match road swing next weekend when they hit the Hoosier State for a pair of tough nonconference tests. UT Martin will visit Purdue on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a contest at Butler on Sunday at noon. Published in The WCP 8.28.12

Print