University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer senior forward Gabriella Korte (St. Louis, Missouri) and senior defender Kelsey Smith (Evansville, Indiana) combined for four first-half goals in leading the Screaming Eagles to a 7-0 victory over Oakland City University Wednesday night at Strassweg Field. USI starts the year 3-0-0 for the first time since 2013, while Oakland City falls to 1-3-0 to begin the fall campaign.
The Screaming Eagles wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the first half as Korte rocketed a shot into the back of the Oakland City goal at 4:54 to make the score 1-0. Smith followed at 21:46 by heading in a corner kick from Korte to give the Eagles a 2-0 margin.
The third USI goal was Korte’s turn again as she converted a penalty kick at 28:10 for her second tally of the game. Smith followed once again and gave USI a 4-0 advantage by heading in her second goal of the contest, this time off a corner kick by sophomore midfielder Emma Luczkowski (Westfield, Indiana) at 31:19
After going into halftime with a 4-0 lead, the Eagles would add three more insurance goals for the 7-0 final. USI got second half tallies from freshman forward Courtney Spicer (Loveland, Ohio) at 52:33; sophomore forward Kennedy Moore (Evansville, Indiana) at 78:46; and freshman defender Addie Deppe (St. Charles, Missouri) at 82:21.
Between the posts, sophomore goalkeeper Emily Hopkins (Greenfield, Indiana) and senior goalkeeper Courtney Lofland (Indianapolis, Indiana) combined for the shutout, facing only three shots between them.
The Eagles conclude the season-opening homestand this weekend when they start Great Lakes Valley Conference action. USI opens league play at 5 p.m. Friday when it hosts the University of Missouri-St. Louis and concludes the homestand at noon Sunday when it welcomes Maryville University to Strassweg Field.
Sunday’s USI-Maryville match is the Eagles’ annual “Kick for the Cure” game. The Eagles will wear pink jerseys to promote awareness and the fight against breast cancer. Admission to Sunday’s men’s and women’s soccer doubleheader is free of charge.
