EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer had two Screaming Eagles receive Ohio Valley Conference postseason honors on Wednesday. The league’s head coaches and communication directors voted upon the postseason accolades.
It was announced that redshirt freshman goalkeeper Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama) and sophomore defender Charli Grafton (Sunriver, Oregon) were recognized by the conference for their performances in 2023.
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Between the posts, Markland was named the OVC’s Goalkeeper of the Year along with being on the All-OVC First Team and All-Newcomer Team. In taking over the reins in goal, Markland started all 19 matches, posting a 1.11 GAA with 68 saves and six clean sheets in the regular season. Her six shutouts and 1.11 GAA ranked second in the OVC, while her saves total was top five. She also had a .782 save percentage. In conference play, Markland had a sub-1.00 GAA, 32 saves, and an OVC-best five shutouts, including three straight between October 5-12. Markland was a three-time OVC Goalkeeper of the Week during the season.
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Commanding the defensive unit, Grafton earned All-OVC Second Team accolades. Grafton shifted from a holding midfield position in 2022 to the left centerback spot in 2023, leading an entirely new backline for USI this season. The sophomore helped USI to six shutouts in 2023 with five coming in OVC play. Grafton started every match, playing all but 21 minutes this season. Getting involved offensively, Grafton also tallied an assist in USI’s 3-0 win against Lindenwood University on October 8. Grafton was named OVC Defender of the Week twice during the 2023 campaign.
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Southern Indiana concluded its 2023 season with a top-four seed and a quarterfinal appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament. USI earned its second consecutive OVC tournament berth in the second year of the transition to Division I. The Screaming Eagles seek to continue to build and take another step forward in 2024.
