DEKALB, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer suffered a 6-1 setback against Northern Illinois University late Thursday afternoon in DeKalb, Illinois, as the Huskies used a big second half to pull away from the Screaming Eagles.
Not long after the opening kickoff, USI (0-3-1) entered the attacking half in the early minutes to earn a pair of corner-kick opportunities. However, Northern Illinois (2-0-1) scored the game’s first tally in the seventh minute to take a 1-0 advantage after winning a ball out of the air and slipping a through-ball across the goal line.
The Screaming Eagles made a run in the back half of the first 45 minutes, starting with a shot from freshman midfielder Josie Pochocki (LaGrange Park, Illinois) that was blocked inside the box and out for a USI corner kick. A few minutes later, junior forward Payton Seymour (Louisville, Kentucky) laced a shot that was blocked away by NIU’s goalkeeper for another USI corner. Southern Indiana’s first-half efforts paid off in the 43rd minute when junior midfielder Emerson Grafton (Camas, Washington) got a takeaway near midfield, ran down the field, and struck a shot from nearly 25 yards out and over the keeper for her first USI goal to tie the match, 1-1.
Out of halftime, Northern Illinois quickly retook the lead, 2-1, with a goal just over a minute into the second stanza. The Huskies scored again a few minutes later and went on to grab a 4-1 lead by the midway point of the second half. Remaining in control, the Huskies continued their big charge by scoring twice more in the last 15 minutes of the contest.
USI took eight shots with six on goal in the match. All four of USI’s shots in the second half were on target. USI also had 10 corner kicks in the game, seven of which came in the first half. Northern Illinois finished with 13 shots and eight on goal.
Southern Indiana returns to Strassweg Field Sunday afternoon when the Screaming Eagles host Wright State University at 1 p.m. Coverage links of the match can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com
