LADY RAIDERS SHOW GRIT IN FOUR-GAME ROAD TRIP

The Roane State Lady Raiders soccer team faced one of the toughest stretches of the season with four matches in six days, traveling across Georgia and Tennessee. Despite the heavy slate, the squad showed significant growth, capped by a dramatic tie against Columbia State.

The trip opened on Sept. 23 with a 2-0 loss at Pellissippi State. Head coach Donnie Green said the match marked progress from the first meeting between the teams.

"Earlier in the season Pellissippi beat us 4-0, so I saw that our team really stepped up this time," Green said. "Pellissippi is one of the top two teams in the conference, and they're talented and very dynamic. To hold them to two goals was a much better performance than before."

Two days later, Roane State bounced back with a 1-0 win at Covenant College, an NCAA Division III opponent. Freshman forward Zoey Rose provided the lone score, and the Lady Raiders controlled possession throughout.

"We truly dominated time of possession, but we struggled to finish," Green said. "We got the goal we needed from Zoey, and we were pleased to come off that mountain with a win, especially in the heavy downpour."

The momentum carried into a Sept. 26 clash at Motlow State, the top-ranked team in the TCCAA and No. 11 nationally. The Lady Raiders held the Bucks scoreless in the first half before fatigue wore them down in a 4-0 defeat.

"We went in with a defensive mindset, trying to keep it tight," Green said. "At halftime we were tied at 0, and I was proud of that effort. Motlow is the fastest and most athletic team in the league, and to keep them quiet for 45 minutes showed our progress."

Roane State closed the trip Sept. 28 at Columbia State. Just weeks earlier, Columbia had handed the Lady Raiders an 8-0 defeat. This time, despite tired legs and injuries, Roane State battled to a scoreless draw.

"This wasn't like any game I've coached before," Green said. "We were physically and mentally exhausted, but we ran with our hearts. We gave everything that we had for 90 minutes. To tie a team that beat us 8-0 a few weeks ago shows their grit."

Freshman goalkeeper Addison Roberts was a standout, recording 19 saves to preserve the result. The back line—Makhira Ralston, Victoria Moua, Jesla Uribe and Monica Bownds—played through injuries and fatigue to anchor the defense. Midfielders Natalie Gilmore and Hannah Kate Turner also drew praise for their composure and ball distribution against Columbia.

"Sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn," he said. "This road trip showed us that no matter how tough the schedule gets, we can compete with anybody when we play with heart."

Roane State returns home this week for conference play. The Lady Raiders look to build on the momentum from their gritty road stand as they host Motlow State at home on Monday, October 6^th at 4:30 p.m. ET.