The UTM soccer team battled to a tie and two losses this week in play.

UTM and OVC newcomer Jacksonville State battled to a scoreless tie after two overtime periods.

Skyhawk goalkeeper Megan Dempsey played 110 minutes and made 14 saves in the match, including one in the final overtime period.

Jacksonville State goalkeeper Amanda Stephens also played 110 minutes. She finished with three saves as host Jacksonville State out shot the Skyhawks 26-4.

Ginger Schmitt, Kindal Keim, Lauren Greco and Joanna Gomez had the four shots for the Skyhawks.

The soccer team then turned around and suffered its first OVC loss of the 2003 season Sunday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala. Samford University defeated the Skyhawks 1-0 in overtime.

The overtime match against Samford was the second consecutive one for the Skyhawks who battled Jacksonville State to a scoreless, double overtime tie Friday night.

The Bulldogs out shot UTM 17-6, as Samford’s Marian Wagner netted the game-winning goal with only three minutes left in the 10-minute overtime period. Kim Matthews earned the assist. The Skyhawks’ six shots were taken by sophomores Katie Jackson, Katie Hausauer (2), Dani Myrick (2) and freshman Kindal Keim.

Goalkeeper Megan Dempsey had six saves, earning 20 saves for the weekend. Dempsey played 110 minutes in goal in the match against Samford.

In Wednesday’s contest against the University of Memphis, UTM fell short as the Lady Tigers gained a 3-1 victory over the Skyhawks.

The Skyhawks held Memphis scoreless throughout most of the first half, allowing only one goal. Memphis’ Annika Moller scored the first goal of the game 30 minutes into the first half. She was assisted by Yuiko Konno.

The Lady Tigers scored again, only eight minutes after the break. Konno was unassisted in the goal.

Late in the second half, sophomore Katie Jackson offered some hope for the Skyhawks, netting their first goal of the game with 26 minutes left in the contest. Jackson rebounded the ball off the goalkeeper, scoring the goal unassisted. This was Jackson’s 10th goal of the season.

With only two minutes left in the game, Memphis’ Kirsty Marr offered her team some insurance, making the score 3-1. Leanne McGee assisted Marr in the play.

The Skyhawks are now 5-4-2 in the regular season. They will take on the Murray State Racers at 4 p.m., Sunday at Skyhawk Field for their third OVC match of the season.

The Skyhawks are 0-1-1 in OVC play.