CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer game won their third game in a row for the first time since 2021 on Thursday, taking down Austin Peay by a score of 1-0.

Lily Kytasaari (Platte City, Mo./Platte County) scored the lone goal of the evening, finding the back of the net in the 38^th minute for her second goal in as many games.

The Purple Aces’ attack was active throughout the first half, putting five shots on goal in the first 36 minutes of action. Evansville was able to break through off a corner kick, as Ashlyn Koutsos (Cumming, Ga./West Forsyth) put a beautiful ball into the box, where Emmy Brenner (Arlington, Tenn/St. Benedict at Auburndale) nearly scored on a header. However, Kytasaari collected a clearance attempt inside the six and buried a shot to the far post to get the Aces on the board.

The second half saw the Evansville defense hold strong, withstanding 10 Austin Peay shots to preserve the shutout. Reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Week Allie Lammers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) made three saves, including two in the final 18 minutes of play, to post her second consecutive clean sheet and run her scoreless streak to 225 minutes.

“It was a good result. I think three wins in eight days is a huge impact on where our program has gone,” said Head Coach Chris Pfau. “It speaks volumes on our depth. We were able to use a lot of players and have two shutouts back-to-back.”

“Lily scoring a goal on Sunday and today, getting the game-winner as a freshman in the midfield is huge for us.”

“I think the biggest reason we are having success is our leadership and our senior class. From day one of preseason, our senior class has stepped up, they wanted more, they pushed everybody. I think if our senior class keeps pushing us, it’s going to be a really good season for us.”

Evansville out-shot Austin Peay 13-11 overall, including a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal. Taylor Wehrer (Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Oasis) led the Aces with three shots. Lammers made four saves in goal for UE to post her second shutout in a row.

With the win, Evansville moves to 4-1-0 on the season, the program’s best start since 2021. UE will have a week off before heading to Martin, Tenn. for a match-up with UT Martin next Thursday.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s soccer team dropped their second contest of the season on Thursday night, falling to Lindenwood 1-0 at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

The first 45 minutes of the night were scoreless, with Lindenwood out-shooting Evansville 5-2. Evansville nearly broke through early in the second half on a set piece, but a header from Nacho Garcia (Zaragoza, Spain/UNIR) was saved and the Aces were kept off the board.

Lindenwood found the winner just over ten minutes later, netting a goal off a set piece in the 59^th minute. The Lions’ defense held strong for the remainder of the contest, withstanding four Evansville shots to secure the shutout.

“Fully deserved win for Lindenwood,” said Head Coach Robbe Tarver. “They took their set piece goal, they were organized, they didn’t concede many chances, and we weren’t able to break them down.”

“I thought that we got a little frustrated as the game went on, especially after we went down one zero. We probably weren’t patient enough to try to create opportunities.”

Lindenwood out-shot Evansville 10-9 overall, with shots on goal even at three apiece. The Aces had seven corner kicks to the Lions’ three. Michal Mroz (Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove) made two saves in goal for UE.

With the loss, Evansville moves to 0-2-3 on the season. The Aces will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting Xavier at Arad McCutchan Stadium. Kick-off is set for 6 PM.

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+.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s and women’s cross country teams return to the course tomorrow, traveling to Owensboro, Ky. for the Panther Prowl. The meet begins at 5:30 PM with the women’s 5K, followed by the men’s 6K at 6:15 PM.

The Aces opened up their season last week at the Stegemoller Twilight, with both the men’s and women’s teams placing second.

Chase Hayes (Noblesville, Ind./Western) led the way for the women’s team, finishing fourth overall with a time of 14:12.5. Freshman Kyleigh Wolf (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) followed close behind in her first collegiate race, placing fifth at 14:17.2. Avery Stephens (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) also nabbed a top 10 finish, finishing at 14:36.3

On the men’s side, Samuel Lea (Worcester, United KingdomWorcester Sixth Form College) finished second overall with a time of 18:14.0. Freshman James Cruse (Melbourne, Australia) put together a strong performance in his first race at UE, finishing eighth at 18:27.9. Tommaso Losma (Lombardia, Italy/Liceo Scientifico David Maria Turoldo, Zogno (Bg)) also turned in a sub-19 minute time, placing 17th at 18:43.0.

Friday’s meet will be hosted at Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro.

 Aces set for three matches in Atlanta

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Non-conference action continues for the University of Evansville volleyball team as the Purple Aces travel to Atlanta for the GSU Invitational.  Evansville face Florida A&M and Queens on Friday before taking on Georgia State on Saturday afternoon.

“Building off of last night, we’re excited to play 3 more teams that will prepare us for MVC play. FAMU, Queens, and Georgia State all present very different challenges, so this weekend will truly test how adaptable we are,” UE head volleyball coach Zach Weinberg said. “We’re looking forward to competing against 3 opponents we don’t see very often.”

Last Time Out

– Evansville gave Michigan State everything it could handle in Wednesday’s home opener inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse before falling by a final of 3-1

– Sabrina Ripple, Hinsley Everett, and Brooke Herdes paced the offense with six kills apiece

– Kora Ruff led the Aces with 24 assists and eight digs

Sell Out Crowd

– The third-largest crowd in Meeks Family Fieldhouse history was on hand for the home opener versus Michigan State

– A sell out crowd of 864 were in attendance

– The first sell out in the facility came against Indiana University of Sept. 8, 2017 when 1,164 were in attendance while 1,012 fans packed the stands when the Aces faced USI on Aug. 29, 2023 in the first meeting as Division I foes

Freshmen Lead the Offense

– UE’s top three offensive weapons following the opening four matches are freshmen

– Ryan Scheu leads the team with 2.88 kills per set while Hinsley Everett and Brooke Herdes hold averages of 2.72 and 2.56, respectively

– Everett and Herdes have the top tallies by a UE player this season with each posting 17 in the opening weekend

Scouting the Opposition

– UE opens the weekend against Florida A&M who open the tournament with a 1-2 record

– Last season, the Rattlers were 27-7 and a perfect 16-0 in the SWAC

– The second opponent on Friday is Queens University of Charlotte

– Through four matches, the Royals are 3-1 with victories over Gardner-Webb, Sacred Heart, and USC Upstate

– A match against Georgia State completes the weekend on Saturday

– The Panthers hosted a home tournament last weekend that saw them go a perfect 3-0 versus Presbyterian, West Georgia, and Furman