McMillan’s goal in second minute proves to be game-winner
 With just a week of training complete, the University of Evansville women’s soccer team impressed in its 2017 preseason opener with a 1-0 victory over SIU Edwardsville on Wednesday night at Arad McCutchan Stadium.
Despite just a week of practice, it did not take long for the Aces to strike with their first goal as freshman Taran McMillan slipped through the Cougars’ back line and received a through ball from junior Sara Osinski in the box. McMillan dribbled right and fired a shot past the keeper giving Evansville an early goal advantage in the second minute.
The Aces took control of the contest in the first half, putting three shots on goal and one off the post in the first 25 minutes. Through the opening 45 minutes of the contest, Evansville and SIUE each fired five shots with a pair each on goal.
The tide turned in the second frame, as the Cougars came out aggressive. SIUE had its chance to equalize in the 66th minute as Ashlyn Walter was taken down in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. Walter stepped to the spot and fired a shot over the crossbar.
In the contest, SIUE outshot the Aces, 14-7, with a 9-2 advantage for the Cougars in the second half. Stepping up in her first collegiate outing, freshman goalkeeper Michaela Till answered the bell, starting and playing all 90 minutes in goal, making seven saves including five in the second half.
“I thought it was a tale of two halves,” said UE head coach Krista McKendree. “We controlled the first half and they controlled the second half and they should have definitely had a goal or two. We had three chances in the first ten minutes and should have been up 2-0 for sure, I think, but they did a very good job of rebounding and taking it to us in that second half.”
“Overall, I think it was very good,” said McKendree on the exhibition victory. “Obviously we knew that we were going to be young everywhere on the field, so for us its about finding out who is doing well and what we can build around and then what we still need to work on.”
The win is UE’s third-straight victory in its exhibition opener, following wins over Eastern Illinois and Murray State in 2015 and 2016, respectively
