The Purple Aces took a season-high 18 shots over 90 minutes on Sunday
VALPARAISO, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team overcame three separate one-goal deficits on Sunday afternoon to earn a point in a 3-3 draw with the Valparaiso Beacons.
The Purple Aces may have gone down a goal early in Sunday’s match at Valparaiso, but it didn’t stop them from coming back multiple times to earn their second road result. Sophomore forward Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) scored UE’s first brace since 2021 with Evansville’s first two goals of the afternoon. While senior forward Hailey Autenrieb (Cincinnati / Seton HS) became the Aces leading offensive player with UE’s third goal in the 89th minute.
The start of the match was all Valparaiso as they challenged fifth-year goalkeeper Myia Danek (Laingsburg, Mich. / Laingsburg HS) early. The Beacons took an early one-goal lead in the 16th minute on a long shot from the 18. But Evansville answered back quickly only 75 seconds later. Johnson scored her first goal in the 18th minute as sophomore midfielder Ella Hamner (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS) found her in the middle of the penalty area. Johnson smacked the ball into the middle of the net with her right foot for her first goal of 2024.
The match didn’t stay tied for long, as Valpo scored again in the 21st minute, playing with the wind at their backs. The Aces’ offense didn’t back off for the last 24 minutes, taking three more shot attempts but couldn’t find the back of the net. UE’s offense took the start of the second half by storm with three quick shots in the first three minutes.
In those first minutes, Johnson scored her second goal of the match off a long cross from graduate defender Rachel Rosborough (Mt. Brydges, Ontario). Johnson’s second goal in the 49th minute came in close range from the six hitting the far right side of the net. But the Beacons found an answer again in the 57th minute to retake a one-goal lead.
Down by a goal again, the Aces attacked the net with two quick shots following the score. The teams traded back-to-back shot attempts in the middle of the second half. But UE took control on offense in the final nine minutes of the match. After five attempts it was Autenrieb that broke through for Evansville’s third goal in the 89th minute. Running up the left side of the field after an Aces throw-in, Autenrieb fired from the 10 to place the ball in the bottom right corner and earn UE another point in the MVC standings.
Autenrieb was Evansville’s offensive leader with a career-high five shots with two on goal. Two Aces had three shots in the match as Johnson and senior midfielder Reece Simmons (Las Vegas / Shadow Ridge HS) were effective on the attack. Defender Kaylee Woosley (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) and Hamner also had multiple shots for a season-high 18 shots against Valpo.
UE returns home to Arad McCutchan Stadium on Thursday, October 17th. Evansville welcomes Illinois State to the River City for a midweek Valley matchup. Kick-off from Arad is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday.
