Two Goals Lead to Draw Versus Tennessee Tech

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Forward Bronte Peel scored in a third straight match on Sunday, this time in the 86^th minute to knot the game at 2-2. The game would remain tied through full time as the Trojans played the Ohio Valley Conference Regular Season Champion Tennessee Tech to a 2-2 draw on Sunday at the Coleman Sports Complex.
 
Little Rock struck first in the 29^th minute after a Golden Eagle player was penalized for a handball inside of the box. This set up a penalty kick opportunity for junior Karina De Paoli who would drive her shot into the right side of the net for her first goal of the season to give the Trojans an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Trojans held the advantage through intermission until the 63^rd minute when Tennessee Tech would even things up with a goal from Reagan Smiley. The Golden Eagles would then take a 2-1 lead just two minutes later in the 65^th minute on an unassisted goal from Katie Toney.
 
The offense slowed down for a time as both teams battled the wind that was howling at the Coleman Complex. A Little Rock breakthrough came in the closing minutes of the match, the Trojans held an advantage in numbers and began letting off a flurry of shots. Freshman Amaya Arias was the first to take a crack at the Golden Eagle keeper, letting off a shot that ricocheted hard off the goalie's hands.
 
Sophomore Abbie Smith was up next, her shot required Tennessee Tech goalkeeper Maggie Conrad to dive to the right and make a miraculous save to keep the ball out of net. Peel sat in wait for this second carom just to the left of the net. Her shot was the one that would finally hit paydirt, as Conrad was still out of position from Smith's shot. In the blink of an eye the score was all evened up at two and would remain that way through the final four minutes.
 
Peel became the sole leader on the team in points this season with her goal as she now sits at 10 on the season. The Branxton, NSW, Australia native has one goal in each of the past three Little Rock games and four total to go along with two assists.
 
With the draw, Little Rock gained a point and finished the regular season in sixth place in its first season in the OVC. The Maroon and Silver are done playing at home this season but will begin the quest for an OVC Tournament championship by traveling to third seeded Morehead State next week.

The Trojans will face UT Martin on Friday in the first game of the tournament for the chance to play three-seed and host Morehead State on Sunday.
 
For the latest information on Little Rock Soccer, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockSOC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
Get the latest Trojan news – including the weekly Trojan Report – delivered to you direct to your inbox by signing up for Little Rock Trojan E-News here.
 
#LittleRocksTeam