The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team opens 2019 Thursday when it hosts Purdue University Northwest for a 2 p.m. match-up at Strassweg Field. Live coverage of 2019 Screaming Eagles action can be found at GoUSIEagles.com.
The USI-Purdue Northwest match is the first of back-to-back non-conference contests during the first weekend of action. The Eagles finish the first weekend on the road when they visit Walsh University September 8 in North Canton, Ohio. The USI-Walsh match is slated or an 11 a.m. (CDT) kick-off.
Following the trip to Walsh, USI returns to open the 2019 defense of its 2018 GLVC regular-season title by hosting McKendree University at Strassweg Field September 15.
Week 1 Eagle Notes:Â
Defending a crown:Â The Eagles won a share of the GLVC regular-season crown in 2018. The share of the title was the first time in program history that USI had captured a GLVC regular-season title.
Unbeaten Streak:Â USI enters 2019 on an eight-match, unbeaten streak. The Eagles finished last season with seven-straight wins, tying a school record, and a tie in the GLVC Tournament with Rockhurst University (Rockhurst advanced over USI in the GLVC Tournament due to penalty kicks).
GLVC Preseason poll:Â USI is predicted to place sixth in the GLVC during the 2019 season. USI posted a 9-3-1 GLVC mark while on its way to collect a shared regular-season title.
Leading scorers return in 2019: The Eagles return the top five scorers from 2018, led by junior forward Maggie Winter, who posted a team-high 19 points on seven goals and five assists. Junior defender Madelyne Juenger, who tied with senior forward/midfielder Emilie Blomenkamp; junior forward/midfielder Taylor McCormick; and sophomore midfielder Rachel Grey for second on the team in scoring with eight points, dished a team-best six assists last fall.
Climbing the record book: Junior forward Maggie Winter is starting to climb the USI record book categories, ranking 12th in points and 11th in goals. She needs five points to reach the USI top 10 in scoring and four tallies to reach the top 10 in scoring. Winter tied a USI record last fall with three goals in a game versus Oakland City University.
Schoenstein enters his 4th year: USI Head Coach Eric Schoenstein is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Eagles, producing a 29-19-7 mark (.591), a share of a GLVC regular-season title, and three-straight GLVC Tournament appearances.
USI vs. Purdue Northwest: USI won the first-ever meeting with Purdue Northwest, 2-1 in double-overtime last year. Sophomore defender Madeline Weston posted the first goal in regulation, while senior forward/midfielder Emilie Blomenkamp scored the game-winner late in the second overtime.
Purdue Northwest in 2018:Â Â The Pride finished 2018 with a 4-14 record and lost in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament.
USI vs. Walsh:Â The Walsh Cavaliers won the first meeting with the Eagles last fall, posting a 2-0 shutout at Strassweg Field.
Walsh in 2018:Â Â The Cavaliers were 15-5-1 in 2018, reaching the G-MAC Tournament championship game and the second round of the NCAA II Tournament. Walsh fell to Grand Valley State University, 5-0, in the NCAA II second round, after defeating Saginaw Valley State University, 1-0, to open the Midwest Regional.
