FRIDAY’S SCORES
Belmont 2, @Murray State 1
@Eastern Kentucky 2, Jacksonville State 1
UT Martin 5, @Eastern Illinois 1
Tennessee Tech 1, @Morehead State 0
@SIUE 1, Southeast Missouri 0
BELMONT 2, MURRAY STATE 1
MURRAY, Ky. - Jenelle Cunningham scored the first goal of her career, but it was not enough as Racer women’s soccer dropped its home conference-opener on Friday afternoon to Belmont 2-1 at Cutchin Field.
For the second consecutive game Murray State (3-8, 1-3 OVC) opened the game strongly and took the lead on an early goal as Cunningham netted a beautiful header into the upper 90, off of a corner kick pass from Taylor Stevens in the eighth minute of action. The assist was also the first of Stevens’ career.
The Racers collected six shots in the first half and carried the 1-0 lead into the locker room. In the second, the MSU offense stalled as they managed just three shots in the deciding half. Belmont got its goals in the 63rd minute off of a long shot by Allie Hicks from 30 yards out that sailed over Latesha Stevenson and in the 78th minute by Amy Jo Anderson.
Stevenson again had a solid game in net for the Racers and recorded six saves in the loss. Veronika Pribyslavska led Murray State with three shots, including two on goal. While Cunningham registered two shots for the Racers and Stevens and Amber Hanson each got a shot off in the match.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 2, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1
RICHMOND, Ky. - Junior Nikki Donnelly scored the game-winner with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation as the Eastern Kentucky University soccer team upended Ohio Valley Conference leader Jacksonville State, 2-1, on Friday afternoon at EKU Soccer Field.
With the win, EKU improves to 6-4-2 (2-0-1 OVC) and remains unbeaten on its home turf (5-0-1). JSU, which came into the weekend undefeated in conference action and having won four straight games, falls to 10-3-1 (3-1-0 OVC) with the loss.
EKU took the lead early in the second half when the Colonels scored on an own goal that got past JSU goalkeeper Katelyn Geddings. The Gamecocks, however, knotted the score in the 72nd minute when Courtney Hurt, JSU’s leading scorer, rebounded a shot by Kelsey Bright that hit the cross bar and found the back of the net, making it 1-1.
Nine minutes later, Donnelly struck again, notching her third game-winning goal of the season and second during OVC play. The goal came off a set piece, as sophomore Emily D’Italia delivered a ball to Donnelly, who buried a shot into the lower left corner of the goal. It was Donnelly’s sixth goal of the season, and D’Italia’s second assist.
EKU outshot JSU, 18-9, in the game. Junior Brittany Nomady led all players on the afternoon with five shots, two of which were on goal. Jackie Rush led the Gamecocks with three shots, one of which was on goal.
The EKU backline, led by D’Italia, senior Deja Tennon, junior Lauren Fant and sophomore Paige Larkin, has now not allowed multiple goals in 12 straight OVC regular season games dating back to the end of 2010.
Freshman goalkeeper Samm Melton also played a large role for the Colonel defense, making her first-career start in the place of injured Erika Wolfer and making three saves, one of which kept the Colonels on top, 1-0, midway through the second half.
UT MARTIN 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - UT Martin defeated the Eastern Illinois women’s soccer team, 5-1, on Friday afternoon at Lakeside Field. EIU falls to 3-10 (1-3 OVC) on the year.
The Skyhawks (6-4-3, 3-0-1 OVC) pushed their unbeaten streak to seven matches with the win over the Panthers. UT Martin took an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when Hannah McCowen netted her third goal of the year. Dominika Conc gave the Skyhawks a 2-0 advantage in the 19th minute that they would take into intermission.
UT Martin added two goals in the first three minutes of the second half to take a 4-0 lead before Jessie Morgan got the Panthers within one (4-1) in the 63rd minute, scoring her first goal of the season. The Skyhawks would add an insurance goal in the 87th minute on a goal by Abi Sanvee.
UT Martin took seven more shots (15-8) than EIU, including three more shots on goal (9-6). The Skyhawks took seven corner kicks in the match to zero by the Panthers. Both squads committed six fouls in the match.
Hannah Miller and Brenna Vogel both had two shots to pace the Panther attack. Midori Sera led the Skyhawks with four shots (three on goal).
Jessica Taldone (1-10) made the start in goal for EIU and allowed two goals while making two saves in the first half. Brittany O’Dell played the second stanza between the pipes, making two saves and surrendering three goals. Mariah Klenke (5-4-3) posted the win in goal for UT Martin, allowing one goal and making four saves.
TENNESSEE TECH 1, MOREHEAD STATE 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. -A first half goal from Tennessee Tech was all the Golden Eagles needed to defeat Morehead State, 1-0, at Jayne Stadium on Friday evening.
The win improved TTU’s record to 4-7-1 overall and 2-2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while MSU fell to 1-9-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the conference.
The Eagles had the upperhand in shots on goal, 5-1, but could not net an equalizer.
TTU’s goal came in the 29th minute when freshman reserve Taylor Sutton got on the end of a ball inside the 18-yard box from senior midfielder Kris Cambron. Sutton took a touch and placed the ball just inside the post for her first goal of the season.
The strike was the only shot on goal by either team in the first half, but Tech did manage five shots to MSU’s four.
The second half, however, went to MSU with the 9-0 edge in shots.
SIUE 1, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Junior Chelsea Smith picked up the first goal of her SIUE career Friday night lifting the Cougars to a 1-0 win over Southeast Missouri in Ohio Valley Conference soccer at Korte Stadium.
SIUE improved to 5-5-1 overall and 2-2 in the OVC. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Cougars. Southeast Missouri dropped to 2-8-3 and 1-2-1 in the OVC.
Smith netted the game winner in the 28th minute, striking from straight on from about 12 yards away. Michelle Auer picked up her team-leading third assist of the year on the play.
Southeast outshot the Cougars 14-9 for the game. SIUE goalkeeper Jennifer Pelley made four saves to earn her fifth shutout of the season. Courtney Luehman, Torey Byrd, Kasey Crowden, and Storm French each had two shots during the game to lead the Redhawks. Renee Kertz made three saves in goal for SEMO.
The game began about 20 minutes late due to weather concerns.