EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer had multiple shot attempts go off the goal frame on Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field, but the Screaming Eagles had no luck finding the back of the net as USI fell to Miami University (Ohio), 2-0.
After both sides battled to control possession early, Southern Indiana’s (0-6-1) defense had to stand tall in the first part of the opening half. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama) grabbed three saves within a stretch of eight minutes against Miami’s (3-1-2) offensive attack.
The visiting Redhawks struck first in the 28th minute to take a 1-0 lead off a free-kick header, but USI held Miami without a shot for the remainder of the first half.
Coming out of halftime trailing 1-0, the Screaming Eagles looked to create an offensive spark after having two shots in the first 45 minutes of play.
Like the early minutes of the first half, USI’s defense was tested early in the second stanza. Miami produced eight shots within the first 15 minutes after the intermission. The USI backline blocked a trio of shots while Markland saved two more.
The Redhawks extended their lead to 2-0 in the 77th minute on a header off a short cross in the box following a corner kick.
In the middle of the second half, Southern Indiana ran into some tough luck with multiple shots banging off the woodwork of the goal frame. First, a corner-kick header by redshirt freshman Eva Boer (St. Charles, Illinois) went off the post. A few minutes later, a free kick from outside the box by sophomore midfielder Grace Bamber (Chesterton, Indiana) hit the crossbar. Plus, sophomore midfielder Kerigan Kivisto (Collierville, Tennessee) also had a shot clank off the crossbar in the last seconds before the final whistle.
USI finished the match with seven shots. Kivisto and Bamber had two attempts each. On the other side, Miami totaled 15 shots with seven on goal.
Next, Southern Indiana hits the road again on Thursday with a trip to Clarksville, Tennessee to play Austin Peay State University at 6 p.m. Coverage links of the match can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.
