The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team exploded for four first-half goals and cruised to a 5-1 victory over the University of Findlay in the Dunn Hospitality Invitational Friday night at Strassweg Field. USI starts the year 1-0 for the second-straight year and the third time in four seasons.
The Screaming Eagles wasted little time getting on the scoreboard with junior forward Haley Rheinlander(Evansville, Indiana) giving USI a 1-0 lead at the 6:24 mark. Rheinlander scored her first of the season off of an assist by junior defender Sadie Schumann (Aurora, Indiana).
USI quickly increased the lead to 3-0 when senior forward Gabriella Korte (St. Louis, Missouri) and sophomore midfielder Olivia Wilde (Racine, Wisconsin) scored at 11:55 and 15:02, respectively. Korte scored her goal off an assist by junior forward Ryley Hancock (Evansville, Indiana), while Wilde scored on a corner kick by Korte.
After the Oilers narrowed the lead to 3-1, Wilde struck for her second goal of the half at 38:39. She was assisted on the play in front of the Findlay goal by junior midfielder Carlie Scales (Evansville, Indiana) to make the score 4-1. The Eagles would take that score into the halftime.
In the second half, USI and Findlay battled up and down the field before the Eagles scored the final goal of the match. Hancock scored with 44 seconds left on the clock to give the contest the eventual 5-1 final. She was assisted on the goal by freshman forward Courtney Spicer (Loveland, Ohio).
Between the posts, senior goalkeeper Courtney Lofland (Indianapolis, Indiana) posted the victory by allowing only one goal and making two saves in the opening half. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Hopkins(Greenfield, Indiana) finished the game for the Eagles between the posts, also making a pair of saves.
In the opening match of the Dunn Hospitality Invitational, the University of Illinois Springfield shutout Kentucky Wesleyan College, 5-0. The Prairie Stars scored once in the first half and four times in the second half for the win.
The Dunn Hospitality Invitational concludes Sunday with Illinois Springfield taking on Findlay at 11:30 a.m., while USI will play KWC in the final game of the tournament at 2 p.m.
