Aces women’s soccer draws with UT Martin on Senior Night
The Purple Aces had their best offensive performance of the season on Thursday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team picked up a point in its non-conference finale against the UT Martin Skyhawks.
The Purple Aces offense came alive Thursday night with a season-high 15 shots in a 1-1 draw against UT Martin. Freshman defender Emmy Brenner (Arlington, Tenn. / St. Benedict at Auburndale HS) scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the 64th minute to give UE a 1-0 lead midway through the second half. But the Skyhawks found the equalizer in the 81st minute for Evansville to only come away with a point in the final game of the non-conference portion of the season.
The Aces began the game hot on offense with four shots and three corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the match. UE’s best chance to start the game came from freshman forward Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) less than two minutes into the match. Johnson separated from her defender to challenge UT Martin goalkeeper Mac Titus on the right side.
The Skyhawks were able to counter on offense briefly, but Evansville took over momentum midway through the first half. The two teams spent the final 10 minutes of the half deadlocked, each getting two shots. The Aces headed into halftime with the statistical advantage, taking eight shots and five corner kicks in the first 45.
It was a slower start to the second half of the match as neither team found much momentum on offense. But after 15 minutes UE found its way back into the attacking third with three shots in three minutes. Evansville’s offensive attack led to Brenner’s first goal in the 64th minute. She headed the ball in off a cross from senior forward Hailey Autenrieb (Cincinnati / Seton HS) for Autenrieb’s second assist of the season.
The Aces held on to the lead for the next 16 minutes as the two teams battled end to end. But in the 81st minute, UT Martin found a brief opening from the middle of the penalty box tying the game up with a shot to the left side of the net. UE’s offense was able to get another close chance off in the 87th minute from sophomore midfielder Ella Hamner (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS). But the shot went just wide of the net and out of play for a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes of action.
Evansville will begin Missouri Valley Conference action next week. The Aces will travel down south to Belmont to start MVC play on Thursday, September 19th. Kick-off from Nashville next week is set for 6:30 p.m.
