EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer closed a season-long homestand at Strassweg Field on Sunday afternoon with a 1-1 tie against Northern Illinois University.
Replicating the final score from last year’s meeting between the two schools, Sunday’s draw moved USI to 1-5-2 on the season and Northern Illinois to 2-2-2. The 1-1 tie was USI’s second consecutive result after Thursday’s win against Austin Peay State University. The Screaming Eagles went 1-1-1 during the three-match home set.
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Sunday’s first stanza was highlighted by strong defensive play from both teams. Even though USI and NIU each had good build-up play into the attacking third, neither side could find a breakthrough. In the middle of the first half, Northern Illinois ran into Southern Indiana’s defensive box, but USI sophomore keeper Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama) charged off her goal line and blocked a shot away from the goal.
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The Screaming Eagles had two shots off free kicks in the opening 45 minutes and a third attempt by senior defender Alexis Schone (Galena, Ohio) that threatened the goal but was punched away by NIU’s goalkeeper. The match was scoreless at halftime with each team recording three shots in the first half.
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The second half began with the same back-and-forth stalemate. Then in the 62nd minute, USI went on the attack. Freshman midfielder Lydia Bordfeld (Evansville, Indiana) found a ball at her feet that she blasted into the crossbar, but the ricochet went right to senior midfielder Avery Schone (Galena, Ohio). Schone buried the putback into the net for her first goal of the season off the assist from Bordfeld, giving USI a 1-0 advantage. Northern Illinois tied the match in the 86th minute on a successful penalty kick by graduate forward Sahara Zingano. Then in the final seconds of the match, the Huskies made one last effort to score the go-ahead goal, but Markland made a big, diving save to her near post to block a shot away and keep the 1-1 draw intact.
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Statistically, the Screaming Eagles tallied seven shots with four on goal, while the Huskies totaled six shots with five on target. A physical, defensive contest led to 27 combined fouls. Avery Schone paced USI with three shots, placing two on frame including her 62nd-minute goal. Markland finished with four key saves for Southern Indiana.
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Southern Indiana heads back on the road Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff against the University of Kansas City. Thursday’s match can be seen on the Summit League Network.
