SAN ANTONIO, Texas. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer allowed four second half goals in falling to the University of the Incarnate Word, 4-0, Sunday morning in San Antonio, Texas. The Screaming Eagles go to 1-9-1 overall and 0-3-1 in the OVC, while UIW is 5-4-3, 3-0-1 OVC.
 
USI, despite being outshot, battled UIW to a 0-0 draw after the first 45 minutes. The Cardinals controlled most of the first half, leading 10-1 in shots and 6-1 in corner kicks.
 
The second half was all Cardinals as they took a quick 2-0 lead with tallies at 52:09 and 52:44. UIW would cap off the scoring with goals at 65:26 and 87:05 to finish out the scoring.
 
Between the posts, USI had a valiant effort by junior goalkeeper Braden Matthews (Princeton, Indiana) in spite of the loss. Matthews faced 28 shots overall, 15 on-goal, making a career-high 11 saves.
 
NEXT UP FOR USI:
USI returns to Strassweg Field next week to start a three-match homestand October 12 when it hosts Chicago State University. The Eagles and the Cougars, who will be facing each other in the OVC for the first time after competing last year in The Summit League, kickoff at 3 p.m.
 
The Cougars start Sunday with a 3-7-1 overall mark, 1-2-0 in the OVC, and are slated to play Lindenwood University later in the afternoon. Chicago State had broken a seven-match winless streak Thursday when it defeated Liberty University, 3-2, at home.
 
The remainder of the homestand will include a first-time meeting with Liberty October 15 and a match-up with Eastern Illinois University October 19. USI host Senior Day on October 15 versus Liberty.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer notched its third straight win on Sunday with a 3-0 shutout victory against Lindenwood University on Senior Day and Alumni Day at Strassweg Field.
 
In front of senior families, USI Women’s Soccer alumni, and Screaming Eagle fans, Southern Indiana recorded its largest win of the season. Sunday was USI’s seventh result in the last eight matches. Plus, USI is now 3-0-1 in its last four home matches after Sunday’s victory.
 
Southern Indiana came out of the gates fast, pushing the Lions back. Making early headway into the attacking half, USI launched four shots in the first 25 minutes. Senior midfielder Paige Vanek (St. Charles, Missouri) placed one shot on goal, and freshman midfielder Pilar Torres (Chula Vista, California) put one on target as well.
 
Later in the first half, Lindenwood applied some pressure toward USI’s defensive end line. The Lions pulled the trigger for a couple of shots on goal following a series of set pieces in the attacking third. However, the Eagles’ defensive unit stayed strong to limit Lindenwood’s push and switch the field position back toward USI’s offensive half. In the 39^th minute, freshman defender Kamryn Bea (O’Fallon, Missouri) played a long pass down the left flank toward sophomore forward Payton Seymour (Louisville, Kentucky), who crossed the ball in front of the goal where freshman midfielder Grace Bamber (Chesterton, Indiana) battled through contact to put the ball into the net for her second goal of the season. The Screaming Eagles carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime.
 
The late, first-half momentum stayed with USI out of the break. Southern Indiana doubled its lead to 2-0 in the 48^th minute when an over-the-top pass by senior defender Alexis Schone (Galena, Ohio) led sophomore midfielder Peyton Murphy (Bargersville, Indiana) into the box, slotting the ball past Lindenwood’s goalkeeper Erika Anstine. The goal-scoring play started out of the back by sophomore defender Charli Grafton (Sunriver, Oregon), who tallied her first helper of the season while Schone earned her second assist of 2023. The score gave Murphy a goal in the second consecutive game after scoring in USI’s win at Western Illinois University on Thursday.
 
The Eagles kept the pressure on despite the efforts from Lindenwood to claw back into the match. Looking for an insurance goal late in the second half, USI extended its lead to 3-0 in the 83^rd minute. The ball made its way to Torres in the midfield, who passed it to Murphy making a run left of the center circle. Murphy quickly relayed the ball up ahead through the middle to Vanek making a long, overlapping run. The senior captain dribbled into the box and finished the play with her first career goal on Senior Day to close out the 3-0 clean sheet for Southern Indiana.
 
In the contest, USI registered six total assists on the three goals. The Eagles outshot the Lions 11-9, including 7-5 in shots on goal. Individually, Torres led USI by placing all three shot attempts on frame, while Vanek also was perfect putting both of her shots on target. Murphy totaled three shots with one on goal in the game. Between the posts, redshirt freshman Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama) made five saves, including a diving catch in the air in the final minutes to seal the deal. Sunday was Markland’s second consecutive shutout and the fourth this season for her and USI.
 
Overall, the Eagles improved to 4-6-4 this season and to 3-1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Following Sunday’s slate of games in the OVC, USI climbed to third place in the standings with 10 points. For Lindenwood, Sunday’s defeat moved the Lions to 3-10-1 overall and 1-5-0 in conference action, sitting at the bottom of the league table with Western Illinois.
 
The Screaming Eagles are back home at Strassweg Field on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Thursday’s game will be the Mental Health Awareness game for USI. All in attendance are welcome to wear green in support.