FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Murray State 2, SIUE 0
Belmont 1, @Eastern Kentucky 0
@Austin Peay 3, Eastern Illinois 0
MURRAY STATE 2, SIUE 0
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State women's soccer team won its first OVC regular season title since 2008 by defeating SIUE, 2-0, Friday at Cutchin Field in Murray. Marissa Burroughs and Taylor Richerson each had a goal in the match.
The title is the second regular season championship for Murray State and the third title overall. In just his second year as a head coach, Jeremy Groves has led his team to the best start in OVC play in school history, the most consecutive wins in program history, and has now tied a program best for wins in a season at twelve.
It was a slow first half for both teams on offense with the Racers taking three shots and the Cougars only taking one. In the 43rd minute, Burroughs broke the stalemate and found the back of the net, to give the Racers the 1-0 advantage. Taylor Stevens and Cori Cain set up the goal by finding the senior out in front, allowing Burroughs to beat the keeper and give the Racers the lead headed into halftime.
Coming out of the half, the Racers wasted no time adding an insurance goal. In the 56th minute, Destiny White found Richerson out in front of the pack, allowing Richerson to beat the defender, then the goalie to give the Racers a 2-0 lead.
MSU would fight off SIUE for the rest of the second half as the Racers were outshot, 9-6. However, in the end, the Racers came out with a 2-0 win and the OVC title.
Caroline Ashton, Stevens, and Burroughs would lead Murray State's on offense, with each taking two shots each. Burroughs goal was her fourth of the season, while Richerson scored her sixth. Goalkeeper Alex Steigerwald notched another shutout, her fourth of the season, as she played all 90 minutes and stopped six shots
With the win, the Racers clinched first place outright in the OVC standings, giving Murray State the right to host the OVC tournament semifinal and championship rounds on Nov. 6 and 8.
BELMONT 1, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University soccer team fell to Belmont, 1-0, in its home finale on Friday afternoon at EKU Soccer Field.
A late goal by Belmont’s Belicia Mendiola proved to be the difference in the defensive-minded match. In the 84th minute, EKU was whistled for a foul. Brittany Coca’s ensuing free kick was headed in by Mendiola to lift the Bruins to victory.
The Colonels (3-6-0 OVC) now face a must-win situation at Jacksonville State on Sunday to keep their OVC Tournament hopes alive.
Eastern outshot Belmont in the game, 10-8. Sophomore Logan Harvey was the most dangerous Colonel going forward, firing a team-best five shots, three of which were on goal.
Seniors Amani Thomas and Merrissa Vault and freshman Kacy Eckley played all 90 minutes on the backline and anchored an EKU defense that has now surrendered only three goals it its last five games.
AUSTIN PEAY 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Three second-half goals propelled Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team to a 3-0 victory, Friday, against Eastern Illinois at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.
Senior Shelby Olszewski, junior Gina Fabbro and sophomore Sophia Fabbro all found the back of the net for the Lady Govs (7-9, 3-5 OVC), who recuperated following a four-match losing skid. With the win, APSU is now eighth place in the conference standings with two contests remaining.
In the first half, Austin Peay maintained possession for a large portion, leading to 10 shots. The Panthers (3-12-2, 1-6-1 OVC) managed one shot in the period and two overall.
Following missed opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, the Lady Govs broke through for their first goal in the 68th minute. Junior Nicole Wojcik banged a shot against the post, with the rebound falling to Olszewski who scored from close range.
In the 81st minute, sophomore Brooke Nigrin made a run down the right flank, and played a pass to Gina Fabbro in the box for her third assist of 2015. Fabbro quickly volleyed the ball into the top corner, her ninth goal of the season and 23rd of her renowned career.
Seven minutes later, at the 88th-minute mark, Olszewski added an additional point on the night after playing a ball over the top to Sophia Fabbro. With the EIU back line playing aggressively, Fabbro snuck behind the defense and beat the oncoming keeper for a walk-in goal. It’s the first tally for the younger Fabbro sister after missing much of the season due to injury.
Sophomore Lindsey Todd earned the win in goal for Austin Peay, her seventh win and third shutout on the year.
Freshman McKenzie Dixon led APSU in shots with four, while another nine Lady Govs contributed to the offensive display.
Sophomore Anna Hall played all 90 minutes in goal for the Colonels and made one save.