USI loses in final minutes to Little Rock

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer concluded their two-match homestand Sunday with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, as the game-winning goal was scored with just over two minutes remaining in the Ohio Valley Conference battle.
 
USI started the match aggressively in the attacking third, generating two shots within the first five minutes. Junior forward Morgan Beyer (Rossford, Ohio) and freshman midfielder Emma Thurston (Leawood, Kansas) had the two attempts at goal.
 
The middle portion of the first half saw the offenses quiet down a little, making the match a back-and-forth battle for possession in the midfield. The Screaming Eagles picked up their attack once again toward the tail end of the first half, getting two shots from freshman forward Payton Seymour (Louisville, Kentucky).
 
The match was scoreless at halftime. USI outshot Little Rock 5-0 at the break.
 
About 15 minutes into the second half, Little Rock threatened with a flurry of attempts inside the defensive box for USI. The mad scramble in the box ended with a save by senior goalkeeper Maya Etienne (Midland, Michigan) and cleared away by the USI defense to get the ball out of danger.
 
USI generated three more shots and a couple of corner kicks midway through the second half, but the back-and-forth battle continued. Then with just over two minutes remaining, and when it appeared that a scoreless draw was looming, Little Rock scored the game-winning goal. The Trojans’ redshirt freshman forward Bronte Peel passed the ball to the wide right where sophomore defender Abbie Smith made a one-time cross to the box. Freshman midfielder Amaya Arias headed the cross into the goal for her third goal of the season. Peel and Smith were credited with assists.
 
In the match, USI outshot Little Rock 8-5, while the Trojans had two shots on goal to USI’s one. Both teams recorded four corner kicks.
 
For USI, Beyer and Seymour led the team with two shots each, including one on goal for Seymour. In net, Etienne played the full 90 minutes with one save.
 
Next up, USI Women’s Soccer will continue the conference schedule next Sunday, October 2 on the road at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. next Sunday and can be seen live on ESPN+ with a subscription.