EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team makes the trek to Iowa this week, taking on Northern Iowa and first-place Drake for two crucial MVC matches. With three regular season matches remaining, the Purple Aces look to remain in the MVC Tournament field and currently hold the sixth and final tournament spot. Evansville begins the trip on Thursday, taking on UNI at 2 PM.

Last Time Out
Despite holding a 1-0 lead at halftime, Evansville dropped Sunday’s contest at Murray State by a score of 3-2. The Racers scored three times in the first 16 minutes of the second half to pull away.

Murray State controlled things in the early going, tallying six shots in the first 15 and a half minutes of play. However, the Evansville defense held strong and did not allow the Racers to put a shot on goal.

The Evansville attack got going beginning in the 17^th minute, earning three corner kicks in the span of four minutes. In the 23^rd minute, Brielle LaBerge (Cumming, Ga./Forsyth Central) won a ball along the sideline in the midfield to create a scoring chance for the Purple Aces. LaBerge then sent a through ball into the left side of the box for Taylor Wehrer (Las Vegas. Nev. Desert Oasis), who passed to a streaking Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) on the far post for a tap-in goal. The goal was Johnson’s third of the season and gave Evansville a 1-0 lead.

The Purple Aces’ 1-0 lead would hold heading into the halftime break, but the Racers jumped early in the second half. Murray State evened things up at one in the 48^th minute before earning a penalty kick in the 50^th minute. However, Evansville keeper Allie Lammers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) was up to the task, diving to her right to make the stop.

Just 15 seconds later, the Racers found the back of the net once again to take their first lead of the match. Murray State scored once again in the 62^nd minute, extending their lead to 3-1.

Evansville would not go down without a fight, though, putting four shots on goal before Paige Radel (Metamora, Ohio/Evergreen) scored her first goal of the season in the 83^rd minute. After shots by Ella McAndrew (Greendale, Ind./Lawrenceburg) and Kathryn Tyler (Dallas, Texas/Liberty Christian) were saved by the Murray State keeper, Radel collected a loose ball in front of the goal and found the back of the net with a right-footed shot to bring the match within one.

However, the Aces were unable to find the equalizer in the final seven minutes as the Racers took a 3-2 win.

Series History 

2022. LOUIS – For the second time in the last four weeks, Evansville freshman Andres Escudero (San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain/IES Joan Miro) has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday afternoon. Additionally, Escudero was named national Freshman of the Week by College Soccer News, the publication announced on Tuesday morning.

      Escudero earns the accolades after posting his third brace of the season on Saturday night at UIC, helping the Purple Aces secure a 2-2 draw and remain atop the MVC table.

      Just 21 seconds after UIC notched the first goal of the match in the 40^thminute, Escudero responded with his seventh goal of the season to even the score at one heading into halftime. In the second half, the Aces faced a 2-1 deficit, but Escudero struck again with a goal in the 85^thminute to help his team leave Chicago with a crucial point.

      The brace was Escudero’s third of the season, making him one of two freshmen in the country with three braces this season and the first UE freshman with three braces in a season since Nacho Diaz Barragan in 2022. Escudero also became one of 12 players in the country this season with three games scoring two goals or more.

      Escudero has put together one of the most prolific freshman campaigns in Purple Aces program history, with his eight goals being the most by an Evansville freshman since MVC Freshman of the Year Nacho Diaz Barragan in 2022. Among freshmen nationally, Escudero ranks third in goals scored and ranks 16^th among all players with eight.

      Escudero and the Purple Aces are back in action on Friday, celebrating Senior Night against Bradley at Arad McCutchan Stadium. Kick-off is set for 6 PM.