EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer earned its first victory of the season Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field, winning 2-1 with a second-half comeback against Bellarmine University.
Southern Indiana (1-6-2) and Bellarmine (1-5-1) renewed their old rivalry from when the two schools were at the D-II level in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Sunday’s match was the first meeting of the D-I era for both schools, as the two sides have not faced off since 2019.
In the early minutes of Sunday, it looked like USI would strike first. Just over five minutes into the contest, the Screaming Eagles were inside the Knights’ six-yard box, merely feet away from the goal. However, the ball bounced off a swarm of players from both sides and was eventually blocked away.
Following a stretch of exchanged opportunities, Bellarmine scored the game’s first tally to take a 1-0 lead at 23:22 of the opening half. USI looked to answer near the 30-minute mark when sophomore midfielder Pilar Torres fired a shot that was saved by the Knights’ goalkeeper.
USI senior goalkeeper Zoe Lintner, who made her first start of the season on Sunday, came through with a pair of big saves in the latter stages of the first half to keep the match a one-goal difference heading into halftime.
The Eagles came out of the break on the offensive with pressure and making the most out of their first two shot attempts of the second half.
Southern Indiana equalized the contest, 1-1, in the 57th minute. Junior midfielder Emerson Grafton crossed a ball to freshman midfielder Josie Pochocki who flicked it toward sophomore midfielder Greta Ohlwein at the back post. Ohlwein one-timed it into the top side of the netting for her first goal this season.
Nearly two minutes later, Ohlwein received a pass from junior midfielder Peyton Murphy and beat Bellarmine’s goalkeeper one-on-one, burying her second goal of the game and giving USI a 2-1 advantage.
From there, the Screaming Eagles played from in front with energy and confidence, as Bellarmine’s frustrations mounted. The USI defense finished the job, holding the Knights to three shots in the final 30 minutes with Lintner snagging another save in the process to preserve Southern Indiana’s 2-1 victory.
Shot totals were fairly even in the match. Southern Indiana took nine shots with four on goal, while Bellarmine recorded 10 shots and five on goal.
In addition to two goals scored, Ohlwein led USI with three shots and two on target. Between the posts, Lintner totaled four saves in the win.
Sunday’s victory was USI’s first win since October 8, 2023, when the Eagles defeated Lindenwood University. Additionally, USI’s first goal on Sunday afternoon snapped a scoreless streak of 339-plus minutes.
Coming off a tie and a win this past week, the Screaming Eagles will get some extra time to recover and prepare for the opening of Ohio Valley Conference play. USI begins the conference slate next Sunday, September 22 on the road at Southeast Missouri State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Links for match coverage can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.
