SUNDAY'S SCORES
@SIUE 1, Belmont 0
@Eastern Illinois 0, Jacksovnille State 0
@Morehead State 4, Eastern Kentucky
@Austin Peay 3, UT Martin 1
@Murray State 4, Southeast Missouri 1
SIUE 1, BELMONT 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE women's soccer notched its first Ohio Valley Conference win in a 1-0 victory over Belmont.
The Cougars improve to 4-6-3 and 1-2-1 in OVC play. The Bruins fall to 2-9-1 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
After a back-and-forth first half, Cougar freshman Courtney Benning netted the ball for her first goal of the season in the 35th minute. Midfielder Cassidy Sherman gained control of the ball before tapping it to Alexandra Johnson, who pushed the ball through to Benning inside the circle.
The Cougars maintained the 1-0 lead going into the half and never looked back. The shutout marks the seventh of the season for SIUE and the 28th career shutout for Jennifer Pelley, who continues to add to her career shutout record.
Benning led the offensive attack for the Cougars with four shots to complement her goal. SIUE tallied 15 shots to Belmont's 10, marking the sixth consecutive game that the Cougars have outshot their opponent.
Pelley made six saves on the game to earn the shutout.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 0, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0
CHARLESTON, Ill. - – Both Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State had chances Sunday afternoon to get on the scoreboard but at the end of 110 minutes of action it was the goalkeepers for both schools that told the story during a 0-0 double overtime tie at Lakeside Field.
EIU moved to 2-9-2 on the season, 0-3-1 in the OVC as the Panthers earned their first OVC point of the year. JSU moved to 5-6-1, 2-1-1 in the OVC.
The Panthers had the best scoring chance in the overtime session as Hannah Miller fired a shot that was saved by JSU goalkeeper Caroline Robinson two minutes into the second extra session. Robinson made a deflection on Miller’s initial shot and Miller’s follow-up volley went high of the net.
EIU played most of the overtime session with a player advantage as JSU had a player earn a second yellow card three minutes into the first overtime session. EIU would take five shots in overtime compared to just one for JSU.
For the match JSU ended with a 17-8 overall shots advantage including a 5-2 shots on goal margin.
Robinson finished with two saves in the shutout for JSU. EIU freshman goalkeeper Maddie Lyon turned away five shots on goal for her second shutout this year. EIU opened the season with a scoreless draw against IUPUI.
The Gamecocks had two shots hit the post in the second half. A final shot by Kelsey Bright in the final minute of regulation was blocked in the goal box by EIU.
Molly Hawkins had the other shot on goal for EIU joining Miller.
MOREHEAD STATE 4, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1
MOREHEAD, Ky. - An explosive offense led Morehead State soccer to a 4-1 victory over in-state OVC rival Eastern Kentucky Sunday afternoon at Jayne Stadium.
Freshman forward Abby Timm led the way for the Eagles, collecting two goals, giving her a team leading six goals on the season. The afternoon began when Timm broke free from two defenders off of an assist by senior defender Kelsey Gomez to net her first goal of the day. The goal gave MSU a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, a lead they would not relinquish.
Junior forward Lauren Duffy did her best to match Timm's performance. She came off the bench midway through the first half and registered a goal in the 23rd minute. Swiping a loose ball, she broke into the goalkeeper's box, and shot from the right side. EKU's sophomore goalkeeper made an incredible save, deflecting the ball to the left of Duffy. But, Duffy regrouped and tapped it in with her left foot, giving MSU a 2-0 lead.
In the closing minutes of the first half, freshman midfielder Cara Maher snagged her first collegiate goal, as she took a pass from the right side of the field from Duffy. Cutting through the middle of the box, Maher sent the ball screaming into the back of the net, solidifying the Eagles lead at 3-0.
Timm finished off her extraordinary day in the 79th minute as she beat the keeper to the ball off of a 25-yard pass from senior defender Teig Palmateer and then tapped in an uncontested shot from eight yards out. The goal gave her two on the today and provided the final margin of 4-1.
AUSTIN PEAY 3, UT MARTIN 1
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team added its second Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season, Sunday, by defeating UT Martin 3-1 at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.
The Lady Govs (6-5-0, 2-1 OVC) carried their offensive efficiency into the match to record 15 shots, handing the Skyhawks (4-8-0, 2-1 OVC) their first conference defeat.
APSU pressed the opposition early in the first half, attempting three shots in the opening three minutes. After a feeling out process followed, sophomore Kirstin Robertson put the Lady Govs on the board first in the 31st minute.
As freshman Isabel Holmes entered the contest, the midfielder played a through ball to Robertson, who made a run down the center of the pitch. The offside flag stayed down, and she capitalized with a shot which beat the keeper for her second goal of 2015.
The Lady Govs out-shot UT Martin 8-3 in the first half, but the Skyhawks answered back in the 59th minute to knot the score. Amy McGivern gave a short pass to Sara Ketis just beyond the 18-yard box, and she fired it home for the equalizer.
But as the clock ticked below 70 minutes, freshman McKenzie Dixon took over in her attacking midfield role.
The two-time OVC Player of the Week scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute following a flick over the defense by Robertson which led to the score.
In the 85th minute, Dixon would find the back of the net for the eighth time this season, collecting a short pass from junior Gina Fabbro in the box and powered it past the keeper’s right side.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Todd improved to 2-0 on the weekend and 6-5 overall after earning the victory, Sunday. MaKenzie Crawford picked up the loss for the Skyhawks.
Dixon finished with a four shots on the afternoon to lead APSU, while UTM’s Saphyrn Coombs-James led all players with six shots.
MURRAY STATE 4, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State women's soccer team defeated Southeast Missouri 4-1 at Cutchin field on Sunday. A pair of goals by Taylor Richerson and goals from Taylor Stevens and Caroline Ashton boosted the Racers past the Redhawks to start conference play 3-0.
The Racers (7-4) have their first 3-0 start to Ohio Valley Conference play since they began 4-0 in 2008.
The first goal of the match was scored in the 16th minute. Rebecca Bjorkvall sent a long pass to Richerson. She dribbled the ball in, giving her a one on one opportunity against the goalkeeper. With a swift kick, Richerson was able to score.
It wouldn't take long for the Racers to score again. In the 18th minute, Harriet Withers took a corner kick that found the head of Taylor Stevens. It was her third goal of the season.
The Racers continued to stay hot on offense. In the 25th minute, Aaron Lankster found Richerson in front of the goal. Richerson took a low shot that went past the goalkeeper, giving the Racers a 3-0 lead and her fourth goal of the season.
Murray State did not let up on the Redhawks (6-5-2, 1-2-1 OVC). In the 38th minute, Stevens went to try to get her second header for the match. It wouldn't go in but would find Caroline Ashton. Ashton used the rebound to her full advantage and scored her second goal of the season. The Racers kept their 4-0 lead through the intermission.
The second half would be quiet for the MSU offense. The Racers wouldn't score again but were able to hold SEMO to only one goal by Jenna Collingridge in the 77th minute.
Alex Steigerwald made her second start in goal and played all 90 minutes for the Racers. She made three saves.
The Racers dominated on the offensive front, out-shooting the Redhawks 17-6.
Richerson's two goals in the match gave her career best goals scored in a match.