EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer finished its homestand at Strassweg Field with a second consecutive 2-0 shutout victory on Thursday night, defeating Valparaiso University behind a two-goal game from senior forward Emerson Grafton.
Following last Sunday’s 2-0 triumph against Southern Illinois University, USI Women’s Soccer (2-5-0) picked up where it left off with another strong performance Thursday against Valparaiso (2-3-1). In fact, like Sunday’s result, the Screaming Eagles got off to a fast start and struck early.
Once again, USI jumped onto the scoreboard before the clock could reach the 10-minute mark. Nearly eight minutes into the contest, a perfect through-ball pass by redshirt sophomore forward Eva Boer led Grafton in stride to a one-touch finish inside the box to put the Eagles up 1-0. It marked Grafton’s first goal of the season and made the senior the seventh different Screaming Eagle to find the back of the net on the year.
The Screaming Eagles kept the pressure on in the attacking half while forcing the Beacons into limited tough looks on the other end. USI’s defense was solid with numerous blocked shots in the game. The Eagles doubled up the Beacons in shot attempts in the first half and carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime.
To start the second half, USI could barely give fans enough time to return to their seats before Grafton scored her second tally of the match 57 seconds into the resumption of play to push USI ahead 2-0. Following a USI throw, graduate midfielder Maggie Duggan kept the ball in the attacking third, where senior forward Peyton Murphy had a twisting header to set up Grafton for a low-corner finish. Duggan assisted on both goals in the match and had a shot on goal nearly two minutes after USI’s second goal. It was Duggan’s first career two-assist game.
While Valparaiso tried to respond and find a spark, USI’s defense made the necessary stops, including a pair of saves by redshirt junior goalkeeper Anna Markland, to keep the Beacons scoreless. With just under six minutes left to play, the Eagles’ defense ended a chaotic frenzy in the box by blocking two shots from Valpo and clearing the ball away to maintain the 2-0 shutout.
For Grafton, who tied for a team-best three goals in 2024, it was her first career multi-goal game in a USI uniform. Additionally, on Thursday, Grafton paced the Screaming Eagles with four shots and three on goal, adding to her team lead in shots this season. Murphy also had multiple shot attempts in Thursday’s match, taking three shots with one on goal in addition to the assist. Overall, USI outshot Valparaiso 11-8 and 5-2 in shots on goal on Thursday.
For Markland, the goalkeeper notched a second consecutive clean sheet with the two saves after being named the Ohio Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this week on Tuesday.
Next, USI Women’s Soccer will hit the road for the first time in two weeks when the Screaming Eagles travel Sunday to Bellarmine University and add another chapter between the former Great Lakes Valley Conference rivals. Kickoff Sunday is at Noon CT and can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+.
