FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Murray State 3, Arkansas State 1
@SIUE 3, Chicago State 1
Wright State 2,
@Morehead State 1
@IUPUI 3,
Belmont 1
Evansville 2,
@Tennessee Tech 1
SIUE 3, CHICAGO STATE 1
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - The women's soccer earned their first home victory of the season against Chicago State, 3-1 on Friday.
Allison Wendt got things rolling for the Cougars scoring a goal at the five-minute mark with an assist from Angel Ikeda. MacKenzie Litzsinger scored the only other goal of the first half with an assist from Allison Wendt at the 18-minute mark.
After this goal, the Cougars of Chicago State responded with a goal form Barbara Castellanos at the 19-minute mark.
The only other goal for the Cougars came at minute 51 from Litzsinger, her second on the afternoon. The team outshot Chicago State 26-12, with 19 of those being on frame.
The team will play at home again on Sunday against Iowa State, kickoff set for 2 p.m.
MURRAY STATE 3, ARKANSAS STATE 1
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State women's soccer played the back half of their two-game home stand on Sunday, hosting Arkansas State in a non-conference battle at Cutchin Field. The Racers got back in the win column after a dominant performance translated to a 3-1 victory on a sunny afternoon in Murray, Kentucky.
While the Racers owned 58% of possession while outshooting their opponent 8-5 through the first 45 minutes of action, the game would be scoreless as it entered the halftime break.
It would actually be the Red Wolves who were the first team on the scoreboard, breaking the scoreless tie in the 53rd minute, but the Racers answered almost immediately when freshman Lauren Payne recorded her first career goal after she finished a cross from Miyah Watford in the 54th minute to tie the game at 1-1.
Reclaiming the momentum after tucking away the equalizer, Murray State would continue to race forward and never looked back.
Watford found the net in the 69th minute – getting in behind the back line when Abby Jones sent a header beyond the last Arkansas State defender. With blazing speed, the senior forward from Indianapolis, Indiana carried the ball forward before placing the ball towards the far post to give her side a 2-1 lead with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Watford would seal the deal when she found the net once more in the 86th minute, receiving a ball from Elizabeth Tilton before creatively beating the goalkeeper to put away her second goal of the afternoon and her eighth of the season.
17 different players made an appearance for Murray State in the 3-1 victory that saw the Racers hold 60% of the possession while outshooting their opponent 15-10 on the day.
Miyah Watford's impressive performance gives her a team-high 18 points (eight goals, two assists) on the season, while Jamie Skarupsky notched her first win between the posts – recording five saves on the afternoon.
The Racers return to action on Sunday when they travel to Springfield, Missouri to take on Missouri State – kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
WRIGHT STATE 2, MOREHEAD STATE 1
MOREHEAD, Ky. - After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, the Morehead State Soccer team succumbed to Wright State, 2-1, on Friday evening at the MSU Recreation & Wellness Intramural Field.
After the opening 30 minutes, Eagles' freshman midfielder Nicole Fiantaco broke away from the Raiders' defense and capitalized on a one-on-one situation with the goalie for her first-career goal. The 5-foot-4 mid found the back of the net on an elevated shot from the right side of the box into the center of the goal to give Morehead State the 1-0 advantage.
Fiantaco, a native of Sterling Heights, Mich., took two shots in the match with both on target.
The Eagles held the advantage until Wright State's Destiny Johnson fired a shot from the top left of the penalty box and over the head of freshman goalkeeper Grace Gaffney in the 47th minute. Johnson's goal was assisted by Ell Schneider.
Johnson scored the eventual game-winning goal for the Raiders on a header shot in the 84th minute. The goal was set up off a pass from Jordyne Helinski that crossed from the right of the box and found the crashing head of Johnson.
Wright State's Maddie Jewell earned the goalkeeping win after allowing the Fiantaco goal and making three saves. Gaffney, making her third-career start, made two saves while giving up the two goals.
Three yellow cards were issued in the match by referee Chris Schurfrunz. Morehead State's Gabby Natasi was given her second yellow card of 2019 while Haley Nelson was issued her first. Wright State's Sydni Callahan was also cautioned.
Morehead State falls to 1-5 overall with the loss. Wright State improves to 5-1-1 with the road win.
The Eagles will look to bounce back on Sunday when they travel to Carbondale, Ill., for a match against Southern Illinois. The match is scheduled to get underway at 2:00 p.m. ET
IUPUI 3, BELMONT 1
INDIANAPOLIS- The Belmont women's soccer team fell short to IUPUI 3-1 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Friday night.
Julie Garst scored the first goal of the game in the 12th minute, her second of the season, off an assist from Sydney Cason. IUPUI answered back in the 36th minute to tie it up at one goal each, keeping that result heading into the locker room.
IUPUI responded in the second half with two goals in the 46th and 66th minute to secure the win.
Belmont wraps up non-conference play on Sunday, facing Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind., at noon.
EVANSVILLE 2, TENNESSEE TECH 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A series of chances went by the books for the Tennessee Tech soccer team, as the Golden Eagles were unable to capitalize on a season-high 24 shots in a 2-0 loss to Evansville Friday evening at Tech Soccer Field.
TTU (2-3-2) outshot the Purple Aces 24-9, but two-first half goals by Evansville proved to be the difference in the second of TTU's program-record, five-match homestand.
The Purple Aces (1-4-1) scored both goals within the span of five and a half minutes early in the first half, a period that produced just five shots for UE. Maggie Leazer unwrapped the scoring in the 14th minute after cradling in a free kick from Emily Ormson that was deflected on a leaping save by Tech keeper Isabelle Austin.
After wrestling in the ricochet, Leazer's first attempt from in close was smacked away by Austin, but the Evansville midfielder's second try found the back of the net to give the Aces the 1-0 edge. In the 19th minute Emily Wolak doubled up UE's margin with her second goal of the season. The 5-foot-2 sophomore received a leading pass from Ormson, before splitting the pipes to push the Purple Aces to a 2-0 lead.
Austin would end up with five saves, while Evansville's Michaela Till collected eight stops, as the Golden Eagles peppered multiple attempts in the direction of junior keeper.
Tech took 12 shots in each half and had an 8-0 discrepancy in corners.
Cassidy Bereda and Kendall Powell each took a match-high six shots. Powell and freshman Bailey Taylor paced the purple and gold with two shots on-goal apiece. Emily Ormson was the Evansville leader with three shots, all on-goal.
Powell and Taylor were among six Golden Eagles to play all 90 minutes. Austin, Rachel Blow, Katie Shipley and Kendall Webb also went the distance.
The Golden Eagles turn their sights to the final non-conference contest of 2019, as TTU plays host to Lispcomb Sunday evening at 6 p.m. CT.