CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. --- Three second-half goals solidified the Mocs win over Austin Peay Sunday afternoon at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field in Clarksville, Tenn. UTC came away with a 3-0 victory against the Govs in non-conference women's soccer action.
 
"Delighted to get the win at Austin Peay," Mocs head coach Gavin McKinney said. "It is always a tough match. We are proud of our team effort."
 
Birna Johannsdottir was the first to find the back of the net taking a pass from Caroline Richvalsky in the 67^th minute. Richvalsky had the ball outside the box on the left side and sent the pass to the top of the box where Johannsdottir picked it up and sent a shot off her right foot into the bottom center of the net to break the scoring drought in the game to go up 1-0.
 
Following a hydration break in the second half with just under 15 minutes to play, the Mocs added insurance back-to-back goals in just over a minute. Mackenzie Smith was involved in both with an assist on the first and scored the second.
 
The Mocs second score came in the 76^th minute when Smith got past her defenders and sent a pass in from deep in the right corner near the baseline. Kelly Tuerff charged the goal and headed the shot home to give Chattanooga its first multi-goal game of the year.
 
It didn't take long to get the third. It all started with a goal kick from Mocs' keeper Caroline Ekern. UTC took the ball up the left side and Clarissa Salinas made strong moves to get around the defense and sent a cross inside the six-yard box to Smith at the 76:54 mark. Smith held off her defender and slotted it into the bottom right corner.
 
The win is the first for the Mocs this season who improve to 1-2-1 overall. The Govs suffer their first loss to drop to 0-1-3 on the year.
 
Ekern, making her second start in the net, earned her first shutout and had one save on just five shots allowed by the Mocs' defense. Chattanooga did not allow the Govs a single shot in the first half, outdueling APSU 8-0 while the second half saw an even effort from both, but four of UTC's five shots were on goal with three getting across the line.
 
Richvalsky and Johannsdottir each led the Mocs with four shots and two on goal while Salinas' two shots were both on goal.
 
The Govs' keeper Chloe Dion had six saves on the day and Alec Baumgardt and Anna McPhie each had two shots. Austin Peay's best shot of the day hit off the post with 35 seconds remaining as McPhie was able to get past the Mocs' defense as time wound down.
 
"Hopefully we can keep the momentum going into our Thursday match against Tennessee Tech," McKinney said.
 
Chattanooga returns to the UTC Sports Complex to start a three-game home stand. The Mocs will host Tennessee Tech Thursday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m. Admission is FREE and fans are encouraged to bring chairs and/or blankets as bleacher seating is limited.