 The University of Evansville women’s soccer team ended its season on a high note with a 2-1 victory over Valparaiso on the road on Thursday evening.
“Proud of the team to show up and gut out a win,” said Aces women’s soccer head coach Krista McKendree. “We had a great response to them tying the game. Credit goes to Valpo for putting the pressure on. Our team showed great character and we are proud to be Aces.”
In the match, senior midfielder Montana Portenier and junior defender Sierra Pagan each scored for the Aces in the win. Between the posts, sophomore JulieRabe earned her second victory of the season, making six saves and allowing one goal. For the Crusaders, Cory Griffith scored the lone goal for Valpo.
Evansville struck first in the 13th minute as freshman midfielder Jayme-Lee Hunter played a ball to Portenier at the top of the box who took a shot that found the upper right corner to give the Aces a 1-0 advantage.
Just shy of 10 minutes later, Valpo answered with a goal as Grace Rogers lobbed a free kick from 60 yards out into the box that Griffth headed into the back of the net.
The Aces quickly responded in the 24th minute as junior forward Sara Osinski slid a pass to Pagan who fired a shot from 15 yards out and scored for her first collegiate goal, giving Evansville a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, the Aces were able to stave off Valpo’s attempts at a comeback as Evansville held on for the 2-1 victory.
The Crusaders out-shot the Aces, 19-9, with many of Valpo’s shots coming in the final 20 minutes of the match.
The Aces end the season with a 6-11 overall record and a 2-5 mark in Missouri Conference Play. Evansville’s 21 goals this season were the post by the Purple Aces since the 2014 season.
