USI returns to Strassweg for two

The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team returns to the friendly surroundings of Strassweg Field to start a two-match homestand that includes the annual “Kick for the Cure” match Sunday. The homestand begins Friday when the Screaming Eagles host the University of Illinois Springfield for a 5 p.m. contest, followed by the “Kick for the Cure” match Sunday when they host Lewis University for a noon start.

USI will be wearing its pink jerseys Sunday versus Lewis in support of the fight against breast cancer. Match coverage for all of USI’s GLVC showdowns can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.

Week 7 Eagle Notes: 

Eagles split second half of road trip: The Eagles extended their winning streak to five matches with a 1-0 win over William Jewell College, but stumbled in their visit to GLVC front-running Rockhurst University, 2-0.

Road trip review: USI was a successful 3-1-0 on the four-match road swing, the longest stretch away from Strassweg Field this year.

Scoring Leaders: Junior forward Maggie Winter sits on top of the scoring column for USI with 10 points on four goals and two assists, while sophomore forward Katlyn Andres is second with nine points on four goals and one assist. Junior forward Taylor McCormick, senior forward/midfielder Emilie Blomenkamp, and junior forward Audrey Andrzejewski are tied for the team-lead with three assists each.

Spreading out the goals: USI has 20 goals by 12 different goal scorers and six different players with game winning goals.

Between the posts:  Freshman goalkeeper Maya Etienne leads the Eagles in goal with a 8-2-0 record, a 0.56 goals against average, seven shutouts, and 51 saves.

Shutout or nothing: Each of USI’s 2019 victories have resulted in a shutout, while each time the Eagles have allowed a goal has resulted in the three losses.

GLVC Players of the Week: USI has had three GLVC Players of the Week this fall. Freshman goalkeeper Maya Etienne became the third player and the first defensive award winner last week, while junior forward Maggie Winter and junior defender Madelyne Juenger have earned the offensive award earlier this year.

Schoenstein enters his 4th year: USI Head Coach Eric Schoenstein is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Eagles, producing a 37-22-7 mark, a share of a GLVC regular season title, and three-straight GLVC Tournament appearances.

Illinois Springfield in 2019: The Prairie Stars of Illinois Springfield are 6-6-0 overall and 5-4-0 in the GLVC after snapping a four-match losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the University of Indianapolis on Sunday. The Stars had won five of their first seven before the losing streak.

USI vs. Illinois Springfield: The Eagles hold the all-time series lead with Illinois Springfield, 8-0-2, and won last fall’s meeting, 1-0, at Strassweg Field on a goal by senior forward Emilie Blomenkamp.

Lewis in 2019:  Lewis is 6-4-2 overall and 4-3-2 in the GLVC, going 3-0-1 in its last four matches. The Flyers had a three-match winning-streak snapped with a tie at home versus Bellarmine University Sunday.

USI vs. Lewis: USI also holds a series lead over Lewis, 15-5-3, and captured a share of the 2018 GLVC regular season crown with a 2-1 double overtime victory in Romeoville, Illinois, on a last-second goal by senior midfielder Courtney Spicer. The Eagles also had a goal by senior defender Loryn Willis in the victory.