Lady Toppers set to welcome Tennessee Tech, wrap up homestand

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Brittany Fisher

Western Kentucky University Lady Toppers celebrate after Brina Micheels scores the winning goal on a penalty kick against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Thursday Aug. 26, 2021. The Lady Toppers defeated Vanderbilt 3-2.

Drew Toennies, Soccer reporter

The Lady Toppers (3-0-0) will be looking for their 10th consecutive home victory tomorrow afternoon. They are set to take the field at the WKU Soccer Complex to face off against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (1-3-0) and conclude their season-opening homestand on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. CT.

WKU is off to its best start since 2009 following last Thursday night’s stunning 3-2 overtime victory over the preseason-ranked No. 18 Vanderbilt Commodores. The upset earned the program its ninth consecutive home victory.

WKU sophomore midfielder Brina Micheels has earned four points so far this season and earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors along with a Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week nod following her two-goal performance against the Commodores. The Plattsburgh, N.Y. native scored her first goal off a penalty kick and notched the game-winning goal in overtime to upset the reigning SEC Champions.

Graduate defender Avery Jacobsen has collected three points so far this season as she has earned two assists and notched the first goal of the match against Vanderbilt on Thursday, a performance that earned her C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time in her collegiate career at WKU.

The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles were shut out 1-0 in overtime by Vanderbilt in their season opener but managed to bounce back in their next contest, shutting out Liberty University 1-0 in Cookeville, Tennessee to finish strong in their home-opening match. The Golden Eagles fell 6-0 to the No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers the next match and then lost 1-0 in overtime to Chattanooga.

Tennessee Tech freshman forward and midfielder Yao Giada Zhou has two points this season from one goal scored in the 19th minute of the Golden Eagles’ shutout win over Liberty. The San Michele al Tagliamento, Italy native has additionally recorded two shots on goal.

Junior forward Chloe Smith and senior goalkeeper Isabelle Austin were also vital in Tennessee Tech’s shut out win over Liberty as Smith rallied two shots on goal and Austin managed to collect three saves.

The Lady Toppers will return to the WKU Soccer Complex tomorrow afternoon to kick off the final match in WKU’s season-opening homestand. First kick is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.

Soccer reporter Drew Toennies can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @drew_toennies.