RICHMOND, Ky. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer came up just short in the front end of its two-game road swing Sunday afternoon, falling 1-0 at Eastern Kentucky University.
Southern Indiana (0-2-1) caught an unlucky break early on, as an Eastern Kentucky (1-3-0) shot near the penalty spot tipped off the glove of redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama), off the post, and into the goal.
The Colonels, a high-volume shooting squad on Sunday, continued to pressure and challenge USI. The Screaming Eagles’ defense stood up to the challenge to keep the score a one-goal difference.
USI gained possession and flipped the field position into the attacking third in the 25th minute. Senior midfielder Maggie Duggan (Defiance, Missouri) put up USI’s first shot of the game just before the hydration break, which was saved by EKU’s senior goalkeeper Marah Krick.
Later, the Screaming Eagles had another good opportunity when junior defender Brynn Quick (Cottage Grove, Minnesota) sent a free kick from near midfield that went straight toward the goal and forced the Colonel’s netminder to make a diving save. Following an impressive save on the other end by Markland deep into the first half, Quick had another free kick on target and saved. Sunday was the second consecutive match that Quick recorded two shots on goal.
Looking to build on its 1-0 halftime advantage, Eastern Kentucky continued its aggressive attack with many shots in the second half. USI’s defense continued to be stout by blocking several shots.
Markland and senior keeper Zoe Lintner (Wildwood, Missouri), who entered the match in the middle of the second half for the last 26-plus minutes, also continued to stand in the way of EKU’s attempts toward any insurance with multiple saves.
Despite the solid defensive effort to keep the Screaming Eagles within reach of the 1-0 difference, a breakthrough reward would not come for USI. Southern Indiana had another potential tying chance on a corner kick in the middle of the second half when a header by junior midfielder Peyton Murphy (Bargersville, Indiana) could not find an opening across the goal line.
Southern Indiana faced 22 shots on the defensive end from Eastern Kentucky but held the Colonels to eight shots on goal. USI finished with eight shots and four on target. Junior forward Payton Seymour (Louisville, Kentucky) tied Quick with a team-high two shot attempts in the match. The combination of Markland and Lintner between the posts totaled six saves, four and two, respectively.
