CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's soccer team fell 2-0 to Austin Peay in the Lady Govs Invitational Sunday afternoon in Clarksville.
"We were a little sore and tired from Friday night's game, so we came out a little slow at the start," UTC Head Coach J.D. Kyzer said. "But I'm really proud of this team. They have a lot of spirit and a lot of fight. Even though we were down by two goals, we were playing like it was a tie game all the way to the end."
Chattanooga (1-3) got down early for the second straight game giving up a goal to the Lady Govs in the 13th minute. After a 30-minute lightning delay, Austin Peay (4-0) was at it again scoring a second goal in the 17th minute.
Chattanooga freshman Taylor Mangrum got the starting nod for the Lady Mocs and was put to the test early with a pair of saves and two shots off the post before Emily Kink found the back of the net at the 12:13 mark. The game was delayed for 30 minutes following the goal due to the threat of lightning.
Once the two teams reentered the pitch, APSU made short work of getting its second goal. Natalie Ariza was assisted by Tatiana Azira and Emily Kink for the score. Tatiana Azira was also credited with the assist on the Lady Govs first goal. Kink had another shot blocked by the UTC defense and Mangrum managed two more saves before the half.
"Both goals were inside the box," Kyzer said. "There was nothing you could do. She did a really good job for us."
In the second half, Chattanooga allowed the Lady Govs to get off eight shots but none were able to find the net as Mangrum nabbed four more saves. The Lady Mocs managed to get four shots off in the latter period with two on goal.
Junior Donna-Kay Henry went down with an injury in the first half and had to come off the field in the seventh minute and was unable to reenter the game until the second half as did Anna Cusick in the 11th minute.
Austin Peay outshot Chattanooga 18-7 with a 10-4 shots on goal advantage. Mangrum had eight saves in her first collegiate start while APSU's Carley Newman and Haylee Shoaff each tallied two saves while splitting time in goal.
The Lady Mocs will return to action next Sunday at Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The game is set to kick off at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. UTC is 1-3 against the Tide. Live stats will be available at the official website of UTC athletics, GoMocs.com.
SCORING SUMMARY
1. 12:13 APSU KINK, Emily ARIZA, Tatiana
2. 16:15 APSU ARIZA, Natalia ARIZA, Tatiana; KINK, Emily
