UE women’s soccer travels to Chicago for clash with UIC

UE women’s soccer added another point to their resume in a 1-1 draw against Drake over the weekend. Junior forward Amy Velazquez (Avon, Ind. / Avon HS) scored the tying goal for the Aces in the 83rd minute of the match for her second goal of the season. Velazquez took the ball from a Bulldog defender up into the 12 and passed over to senor forward Hailey Autenrieb (Cincinnati / Seton HS) on the right side of the penalty box, who quickly returned it to Velazquez at the six. Velazquez struck the ball with her right foot and blew it past Drake’s goalkeeper into the center of the net to help Evansville to another MVC point.

UIC is one of the Aces newer opponent in women’s soccer as the two teams never faced each other prior to the Flames addition to the MVC in the 2022 season. Neither team has won on the road in the series since beginning play in 2022. The Aces will look to see if they can get the first road win and take the series lead on Thursday evening. Both games in the series have been decide by a single goal with only two goals tallied so far in two meetings.

The Flames come into Thursday’s match as one of the conference’s leaders with an MVC record of 3-0-2 after having seven losses in the non-conference season. UIC put together a big win over Indiana State on Tuesday with their highest scoring output of the season with three goals scored. It was the Flames fifth shutout of the year and their fifth game unbeaten in conference play. UIC is led by junior forward Riley Collett with eight points from three goals and two assists.

Velazquez is now tied with freshman defender Emmy Brenner (Arlington, Tenn. / St. Benedict at Auburndale HS) for most goals on the season with two each. Autenrieb and Velazquez are tied as the Aces total offensive leaders with five points. Autenrieb has one goal and three assists while Velazquez has two goals and one assist.