By ANTHONY SHINGLER | Senior Staff Writer

The Lady Govs’ record book season continues and they will get an opportunity to try to win the program’s first OVC Tournament title after a 2-1 win Sunday, Oct. 24, at Tennessee Tech.

The Lady Govs (12-5-1 overall, 4-3-1 OVC) finished the conference season tied for second and will take the third seed and face rival Murray State in the first round of the 2010 OVC Soccer Championships at 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4, in Morehead, Ky.

“This is extremely exciting for the team,” said Lady Govs head coach Kelley Guth in a press release.

“We’ve accomplished a lot this season and this was a huge game for us. It was a battle the whole way. [Tennessee] Tech fought and it was a real back-and-forth match. It was emotional for both sides. We executed and got the win, which was crucial for us to secure our highest seed possible in the postseason.”

The goal that would send the Lady Govs to victory came in the 82nd minute when Natalia Ariza found the back of the net on a direct kick from a handball by one of the Tennessee Tech defenders. The goal by Natalia Ariza is her third of the season.

“A week ago I changed the set play from what we had normally done,” Guth said. “Right before the game today, I decided to go back to our regular corner. Our first corner kick, she was back in her normal spot and Renny got the ball to her. [Northrup] got a half-volley with her left foot and it was a brilliant goal.”

The move back to the original lineup paid off when Samantha Northrup scored in the 22nd minute off a corner kick. Northrup was set up from Laurena Robinson and drilled a shot past the TTU diving keeper for the 1-0 lead.

Tennessee Tech started the second half with an equalizer on an unassisted goal by Kerri Reid. The Lady Govs would respond later with Ariza’s goal.

The goal by Ariza with less than 10 minutes remaining is a situation the Lady Govs have experience grinding out victories before the final horn. In the wins over EKU and JSU, the Lady Govs game winners came in the 89th and 84th minutes, respectively.

“Sam has been such an awesome player for us. A four-year captain,” Guth said. “She doesn’t get a lot of recognition for what she contributes, especially since we’ve moved her into the back line. She’s never been a player to get a lot of stats, kind of an unsung hero for us. That goal was such a reward for all of her hard work, I couldn’t be happier for her.”

The Lady Gov defense held their lines allowing six shots with only one shot on goal. But the high octane Lady Govs offense ripped 12 shots with six coming on goal, and were led by freshman phenom Tatiana Ariza’s game-high five shots. Both Natalia Ariza and Samantha Northrup’s goals came on their only shots.

“I’m proud of our team and excited for what comes next,” Guth said. “It starts all over again next week. It’s a brand new season once again. We’ve got to do our best to prepare for the tournament. We want to get our team focused and prepared to go to Morehead State and perform as best we can in order to make a run at a championship.”
Even though the Lady Govs are in the OVC Championships they have a tune-up game on Halloween when they travel to SIU Edwardsville Sunday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. TAS

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