Aces women’s soccer shutout in MVC opener at Belmont
The Purple Aces led the game in both shots and shots on goal
NASHVILLE – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team held the statistical advantage but couldn’t find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss to the Belmont Bruins.
The Purple Aces had a hard fought battle on Thursday night to open Missouri Valley Conference action at Belmont. UE led in shots, shots on goal, and corner kicks through the match but weren’t able to get the ball past current Valley Goalkeeper of the Week Sydney Jones. Thursday night’s match was only the fourth time Evansville has been shutout during the season.
The Aces controlled play early in the match, keeping Belmont off their offensive rhythm with strong defensive play. UE fired the first shot and shot on goal of the match from sophomore midfielder Ella Hamner (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS) in the fifth minute. Evansville added three more shots of the next 40 minutes with its closest chance of the half coming in the 32nd minute as senior midfielder Resse Simmons (Las Vegas / Shadow Ridge HS) forced a save from Jones.
But it was the Bruins who found the goal with only four minutes remaining in the first half, sneaking a ball past Aces goalkeeper Myia Danek (Laingsburg, Mich. / Laingsburg HS) in the 41st minute. It took UE the first few minutes to get going in the second half, but once Evansville found its rhythm the offense came quickly.
The Aces had back-to-back chances in the 59th minute with another shot on goal for Hamner and an almost open chance for sophomore midfielder Ashlyn Koutsos (Cumming, Ga. / West Forsyth HS). Koutsos fired a shot right in front of Jones but a quick foot from the Bruins defender kept UE scoreless. Evansville had another string of chances in the final 10 minutes from its freshman defenders.
Brielle LaBerge (Cumming, Ga. / West Forsyth HS) put her second shot of the game on net in the 80th minute to force a cross net save from Jones. Emmy Brenner (Arlington, Tenn. / St. Benedict at Auburndale HS) had the Aces final shot of the night in the 82nd minute from just inside the penalty box. The shot sailed just high of the crossbar, keeping UE scoreless in its first match of conference action.
Three separate players had multi-shot nights for Evansville. Hamner, LaBerge, and Brenner all had two shots each while both of Hamner’s shots landed on goal. Two other players recorded shots on the night for the Aces. UE returns home to continue MVC play on Sunday afternoon. Evansville will welcome Muray State to Arad McCutchan Stadium with kick-off set for 1 p.m. on the 22nd.
