Ohio Valley Conference

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois and Indiana State were unable to find separation, ending the match 1-1. EIU moves to 2-4-1, while the Sycamores move to 2-3-2. 

The Panthers came sprinting right out of the gate with an early goal by Ella Onstott. Onstott shot a blooping ball over the head of Alicia Perez Aller, the Sycamore's goalie. Alex Tetteh delivered the ball to Onstott with a cross from the right wing to give EIU the quick start. Panthers and Sycamores would spend the rest of the first half taking turns with possession, with both teams having four shots apiece. In the second half, the Sycamores brought the heat, out shooting EIU 11-3 while winning the possession battle. With time winding down and Eastern Illinois holding their defense strong, Indiana State broke through with a late goal by Alex Lehnert in the 79th minute to leave Lakeside Field with a 1-1 draw. 

Eastern Illinois recorded seven total shots; Kate Germano had two, and multiple Panthers recorded one apiece. 

EIU's goalie, Ella Kratochvil, held her own in net with three saves.

MOREHEAD STATE 1, MIAMI (OHIO) 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Some days you are the bug. Some days you are the windshield.

In Thursday's Morehead State-Miami (Ohio) women's soccer game at the MSU Soccer Field in Morehead, Ky., the two teams combined for 18 shots. The Redhawks took 17, the Eagles took one. Morehead State won the game 1-0.

After seemingly being the bug all season, Thursday night, MSU was the windshield.

It was a reversal of fortunes for a team that had dropped three straight for the first time in three years, been outscored 15-2 on the season and had gone winless in weekday games this fall.

Part of the Eagles' success can be attributed to a reshuffling of their lineup. The Blue and Gold moved junior midfielder Hannah Carter to the back line and the Redhawks had difficulty getting off quality attempts. Virtually every time the visitors attempted a shot, there was an Eagle in the area which forced MU to have to adapt.

Miami (3-3-0) was in control offensively most of the night, but Morehead State (2-4-0) took advantage of the one opportunity it had, which came in the 10th minute.

Freshman forward Jade Walton passed the ball from the left side to the middle of the field where junior midfielder/defender Hannah Burke was able to corral it on the right side of the box before tapping it over to senior midfielder Kennedy Baquero, who spun and ripped an 18-yard shot from the right side to the left post past the unsuspecting Redhawk goalkeeper Dominique Popa.

It was Baquero's first goal of the season and the fourth of her career as an Eagle.

Miami kept attacking the MSU defense but had trouble getting off an unobstructed, quality attempt. Still Morehead State sophomore goalkeeper Claire Cress made seven saves before raising her career shutout total to 4.5. She improved her record this season to 2-4-0.

The Redhawks had a 6-1 edge in shots in the first half and then an 11-0 advantage in the second. They also took nine corner kicks to just two for the Blue and Gold. Miami also had 10 fouls to Morehead State's eight. The visitors were offside twice, while the Eagles were not flagged. The Redhawks received two yellow cards. The hosts were presented one.

Miami held the advantage in possession 52 percent to 48 percent and it kept the ball in Morehead State's defensive zone for 75 percent of its time with the ball. Conversely, the Eagles were only on the attack for 30 percent of their time with the ball.

Kate O'Malley led the Redhawks with five shots. Shae Taylor added three. Popa did not make any saves. She fell to 3-3-0 with the loss.

MSU improved to 2-2 at home this season, while MU fell to 1-3 on the road, snapping a two-game winning streak in the process.

GREEN BAY 5, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Western Illinois women's soccer dropped a 5–0 decision at Green Bay on Thursday evening.

The Phoenix scored three times in the first half (8', 28', 43') and added two more after the break (57', 86'). Western Illinois had limited opportunities in the attack, finishing with three shots with one being on goal while Green Bay recorded 18 shots with 11 on goal.

Ali Matthews led the Leathernecks with two shots with one being on goal, and Ava Bell added another attempt. Goalkeeper, Ariel Bernard made five saves across 90 minutes. 

Western Illinois looks to regroup and continue its road stretch on Sunday at Purdue, entering the matchup 1-4 on the season.

LITTLE ROCK 1, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 1
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - More than 700 fans packed Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex on Thursday night as Little Rock Soccer celebrated the official ribbon cutting of its new turf field. The Trojans matched the energy of the night with a hard-fought 1-1 draw, giving the record crowd plenty to cheer about on a historic evening for the program.

The night began with a special ceremony marking the official unveiling of the new surface. Head coach Kelly Farrell was joined by a host of community and university leaders, including Mayor Frank Scott Jr., City Directors, Chancellor Christina Drale, UA System President Jay Silveria, members of the UA System Board of Trustees, Athletics Director Frank Cuervo, and the Coleman family, for whom the complex is named. Baldwin & Shell, the company responsible for installing the new turf, was also recognized for their work in bringing the project to life.

On the field, the Trojans brought the energy from the stands straight into their play. In the 29th minute, senior forward Maria Schuller buried her fourth goal of the season, etching her name into the program's history books as the scorer on the ribbon-cutting night. Schuller proved dangerous throughout, finishing with five shots and three on goal.

Little Rock controlled much of the second half, outshooting their opponent 10-4, but the finishing touch for a game-winner didn't come. Still, the Trojans showed resilience and attacking promise, ending the night with 15 total shots and nine on frame.

Goalkeeper Peyton Urban kept the Trojans steady with four saves, while the backline and midfield turned in strong performances to limit chances. The night ended in a 1-1 draw, but the focus was on the celebration of progress, growth, and the future of Trojan Soccer.

TENNESSEE TECH 2, CHATTANOOGA 2
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - A seesaw sort of affair that saw both the Tennessee Tech soccer team and Chattanooga erase one-score deficits highlighted an entertaining match that ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw Thursday night at Tech Soccer Field.

TTU's second tie of the year featured a season-high two goals by the purple and gold, with Tech scoring in each half en route to the knot with its in-state counterpart. Tori Soutuyo pushed the Golden Eagles (0-5-2) on the board by breaking a nil-nil deadlock in the 15th minute with her first goal of the season, while Natalie Howard's first-career score pulled Tech even in the 63rd minute after the Golden Eagles found themselves down 2-1 at the half.

Soutuyo's fourth-career goal was an alert play by the junior that saw her collect a pass from Howard before noticing Chattanooga keeper Caroline Ekern off her line. With Ekern inched toward the middle of the box, Soutuyo let loose from deep and soared one over the leaping try of Ekern to put the Golden Eagles ahead 1-0 early. Howard and Melina Hamm, who started the scoring play with a pass to Howard, each earned assists on the goal.

The Mocs (4-1-1) responded by pushing home an equalizer on a Caroline Richvalsky header that ricocheted off the far post and into the back of the net in the 29th minute to square the contest at 1-1. The match-tying goal was made possible on cross from Paige Thomas, who picked up an assist on the score.

Thomas would go on to put Chattanooga on top in the 42nd minute after receiving a feed from Emma Reeves before belting one from well outside the box and in between the pipes for her Southern Conference leading fifth goal of the year.

Down 2-1 at the half, Tech battled back on Howard's goal to cap off a three-point evening for the sophomore out of Collierville, Tenn. Abigail Davis lofted one toward the net before a Moc defender headed it right to Howard who took care of the rest to knot things up at 2-2 in the 63rd minute.

The Golden Eagles tied a season high with 11 shots. Soutuyo paced the purple and gold with a career-high four attempts. The Mocs produced 17 tries, led by Richvalsky's match-leading five shots.

Maggie Conrad picked up three saves in the stalemate, including a dramatic denial on a point-blank attempt by Richvalsky in the 77th minute to keep the tilt tied at 2-2. Ekern notched four saves across the way.

SOUTHERN INDIANA 2, VALPARAISO 0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer finished its homestand at Strassweg Field with a second consecutive 2-0 shutout victory on Thursday night, defeating Valparaiso University behind a two-goal game from senior forward Emerson Grafton.
 
Following last Sunday's 2-0 triumph against Southern Illinois University, USI Women's Soccer (2-5-0) picked up where it left off with another strong performance Thursday against Valparaiso (2-3-1). In fact, like Sunday's result, the Screaming Eagles got off to a fast start and struck early.
 
Once again, USI jumped onto the scoreboard before the clock could reach the 10-minute mark. Nearly eight minutes into the contest, a perfect through-ball pass by redshirt sophomore forward Eva Boer led Grafton in stride to a one-touch finish inside the box to put the Eagles up 1-0. It marked Grafton's first goal of the season and made the senior the seventh different Screaming Eagle to find the back of the net on the year.
 
The Screaming Eagles kept the pressure on in the attacking half while forcing the Beacons into limited tough looks on the other end. USI's defense was solid with numerous blocked shots in the game. The Eagles doubled up the Beacons in shot attempts in the first half and carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime.
 
To start the second half, USI could barely give fans enough time to return to their seats before Grafton scored her second tally of the match 57 seconds into the resumption of play to push USI ahead 2-0. Following a USI throw, graduate midfielder Maggie Duggan kept the ball in the attacking third, where senior forward Peyton Murphy had a twisting header to set up Grafton for a low-corner finish. Duggan assisted on both goals in the match and had a shot on goal nearly two minutes after USI's second goal. It was Duggan's first career two-assist game.
 
While Valparaiso tried to respond and find a spark, USI's defense made the necessary stops, including a pair of saves by redshirt junior goalkeeper Anna Markland, to keep the Beacons scoreless. With just under six minutes left to play, the Eagles' defense ended a chaotic frenzy in the box by blocking two shots from Valpo and clearing the ball away to maintain the 2-0 shutout.
 
For Grafton, who tied for a team-best three goals in 2024, it was her first career multi-goal game in a USI uniform. Additionally, on Thursday, Grafton paced the Screaming Eagles with four shots and three on goal, adding to her team lead in shots this season. Murphy also had multiple shot attempts in Thursday's match, taking three shots with one on goal in addition to the assist. Overall, USI outshot Valparaiso 11-8 and 5-2 in shots on goal on Thursday.
 
For Markland, the goalkeeper notched a second consecutive clean sheet with the two saves after being named the Ohio Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this week on Tuesday.

MURRAY STATE 2, UT MARTIN 1
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team scored first, but Murray State scored two unanswered to come from behind and top the Skyhawks, 2-1, Thursday night at Skyhawk Soccer Field in Martin.

Anna Østergaard Ibsen got the scoring started in the game when she clanged one in in the 11th minute, on assists from Peyton Cook and Addy McCleary, to give her team the early 1-0 lead. However, Murray State equalized in the 31st minute when Mary Hardy beat Skyhawk keeper Mac Titus, who finished the night with five saves, and put one in the back of the net. The 1-1 score held for most of the second half until the 81st minute when Kate Donoghue scored to seal the 2-1 win for the Racers.

Murray State had 20 shots in the match with seven on target, while UT Martin had seven total shots with four going on goal. The Racers also edged out the Skyhawks in corner kicks in the match, 6-5.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3, SIUE 2
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE women's soccer recorded a season-high 12 shots Thursday but fell to rival SIU Carbondale 3-2 at Korte Stadium.

The Cougars will continue this homestand with a 1 p.m. contest Sunday against Saint Louis.

SIUE dropped to 1-5-1 while the Salukis improved to 5-1.

The Salukis scored first, a header from Dory Latenser at 38:11. It was the only goal of the first half as SIUE had one called back due to an offsides play.

SIUE tied the game at 51:01 on Alyna Hauser's second goal of the season. The Cougar freshman buried her shot after both Claire Nieroda and Anna Zichella were dangerous in the box.

SIU Carbondale, however, would score two quick goals at 58:37 from Dior Knorr and at 63:06 from Nao Katamoto. The Salukis finished with 17 shots while goalie Lily Murray collected four saves.

The scoring wasn't complete yet as SIUE pulled within one with Aleah Minehart's first goal of the season. She was assisted by defender Taylor Babb and forward Akeelah Omokhua as the Cougars pushed hard late.

Sarah Bozeman played the full 90 minutes in goal for the Cougars and had five saves. Nieroda led the Cougars with a career-best five shots.