MARTIN, Tenn. – Junior Mary Thompson found the back of the net in the 67th minute and the throttling University of Tennessee at Martin defense recorded its fifth shutout in the last six matches to lead the Skyhawks to a 1-0 victory over Southeast Missouri in the Ohio Valley Conference semifinals at Skyhawk Field.With the victory, UT Martin (12-5-3) advances to the OVC championship match at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. The Skyhawks will face the winner of the Austin Peay/SIU Edwardsville semifinal matchup at 7 p.m. tonight.
The win today was the Skyhawks’ sixth straight, tying the school record set last season for most consecutive victories. Today’s result also secures UT Martin’s third all-time appearance (second straight) in the OVC championship match.
The Skyhawks earned the chance to play for the league title thanks to the familiar heroics of a postseason hero. Thompson – who struck for a pair of goals in last year’s OVC Tournament semifinals against Eastern Kentucky – received a pass off a corner kick by Hannah McGowen and nailed the upper right corner of the net at the 66:13 mark. It was Thompson’s third career goal – all of which have come in the postseason.
UT Martin outshot the Redhawks by a 12 to 4 margin today, putting five of its attempts on goal. Senior Midori Sera led the way with three shot attempts, while Thompson and McGowen each put two shots on goal.
In goal, All-OVC first teamer Mariah Klenke notched her fourth shutout of the season for UT Martin. She made three big saves – including one in the 85th minute – to pick up her 11th victory of the 2012 campaign.
McGowen got the Skyhawk offense going early, firing a pair of shots on goal in the first 19 minutes. Klenke made her first stop of the match at the 26:15 mark and added another save in the 35th minute. Thompson nearly put UT Martin ahead at the conclusion of the first half but her shot on goal attempt was saved by Renee Kertz at the 40:20 mark.
After Thompson’s goal, the Skyhawk defense took care of the rest. UT Martin’s back line did not allow a Southeast Missouri shot for a stretch of 51:08 until Klenke made her save in the 85th minute.
UT Martin’s Dominika Conc then hit the crossbar with an attempt at the 86:05 mark. The Redhawks came back with one final shot attempt in the 88th minute, but the shot veered wide right.