USI embarks on final regular season road trip Thursday at SEMO
University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer embarks on their final regular season road trip Thursday when the Screaming Eagles take on Southeast Missouri State University in an Ohio Valley Conference match at 6 p.m.
Entering the last week of the 2022 regular season and the final two matches on the schedule, USI (4-6-4, 0-4-2 OVC) has two points in OVC play, and Southeast Missouri (6-6-2, 2-2-2 OVC) is tied with the University of Arkansas-Little Rock with eight points.
USI played to a 1-0 loss last Sunday against the University of Tennessee at Martin, as the Skyhawks scored a fifth-minute goal that stood for the rest of the match. In the contest, USI totaled two shots on goal off six total attempts. Graduate student defender Elizabeth Lippert (Lexington, Kentucky) led the squad with two shots in the match.
Southern Indiana had three good chances Sunday, but none of them went the Screaming Eagles' way. Later in the first half, USI's junior forward Morgan Beyer (Rossford, Ohio) took a long-range shot in the 26th minute that was tip-saved off the crossbar by the Skyhawks' freshman goalkeeper Poppy Bastock. The Screaming Eagles had another good chance in the 35th minute, as sophomore midfielder Peyton Wilkinson (Collierville, Tennessee) headed a cross from junior midfielder Avery Schone (Galena, Ohio) that was also saved by Bastock. With less than two minutes remaining in the match, freshman midfielder Peyton Murphy (Bargersville, Indiana) struck the ball from just above the arc at the top of the box and hit the top woodwork.
Close matches have been a common theme for the Screaming Eagles throughout the 2022 season. Out of 14 matches for USI, one goal or less has been scored in nine matches between USI and their opponent. On the attacking end, the Screaming Eagles are averaging 0.71 goals per game. On the flip side defensively, USI possesses a 0.79 goals against average. Additionally, four of the five 1-0 losses for USI saw the game's single goal scored within the first 30 minutes of each match. The other defeat had the lone goal scored in the last 2:30 of the match. The Screaming Eagles are hopeful that the fortunes of close matches will turn their way down the stretch.
On the season, Murphy leads USI with five goals, all of which came in the non-conference season. Her 12 points, 25 shots, and 16 shots on goal also lead the squad. In conference play, freshman midfielder Charli Grafton (Sunriver, Oregon) has recorded the team's single goal against OVC competition. Senior midfielder Jill DiTusa (St. Charles, Illinois) is the team's assist leader with three.
In goal, senior goalkeeper Maya Etienne (Midland, Michigan) has been sharp once again this season for USI. Etienne has a 0.72 goals against average with 55 saves and six shutouts in 2022. Entering Thursday, the senior is two saves shy of tying for third all-time in USI history for career saves.
Southeast Missouri is 6-6-2 so far in the 2022 season, including a 2-2-2 record in the Ohio Valley Conference, and tied with Little Rock with eight points in conference play. The Redhawks are coming off a 3-0 defeat on Sunday to Tennessee Tech. In the match, Southeast Missouri was outshot 24-7 and 9-3 in shots on goal by the Golden Eagles. Freshman forward Cayla Koerner paces the Redhawks with four goals and 22 shots this season. Koerner was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week last week. Between the posts, freshman goalkeeper Sophia Elfrink has impressed in her freshman campaign, tallying 78 saves and a 1.07 goals against average in 14 matches. She has also picked up four shutouts along the way.
USI fans can stay up-to-date with the latest at usiscreamingeagles.com or follow USI Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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