EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer opened their 2022 regular season home schedule Thursday with a 4-0 win against the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin’ Engineers. Freshman midfielder Peyton Murphy (Bargersville, Indiana) led the Screaming Eagles with her first career hat trick.
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The Screaming Eagles were aggressive and attacked early in the match. Junior forward Morgan Beyer (Rossford, Ohio) took the first shot of the match in the seventh minute. On a couple of occasions, USI sent good crosses into the box that connected, but the headers were hit wide of goal.
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In the 26th minute, Murphy struck for her second goal of the season and put the Eagles ahead, 1-0. The shot came after an assisted cross by Beyer and a stutter fake by Murphy near the penalty spot.
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Southern Indiana led 1-0 at halftime and held Rose-Hulman without a shot in the first 45 minutes. Senior midfielder Jill DiTusa (St. Charles, Illinois) made her 2022 season debut, subbing into the match in the first half. She made her presence known quickly with three shots and two on goal in the first half.
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Four minutes into the second half, Murphy picked up her second goal of the match on assists from DiTusa and senior defender Alyssa Wright (Sellersburg, Indiana). Murphy continued to have a nose for goal, achieving her hat trick in the 53rd minute on a short cross assist by Beyer, her second of the match, toward the top of the six-yard box.
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A minute later, junior midfielder Avery Schone (Galena, Ohio) joined Murphy in the scoring column for USI on a shot in the middle of the box. DiTusa earned her second assist of the match on the play.
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Midway through the second half, USI was able to make substitutions to get early-season experience for their bench, contributing solid minutes for the Screaming Eagles.
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Southern Indiana finished with 24 shots, placing 16 on frame to go along with five assists. Rose-Hulman managed to get four shots and put two on target.
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USI’s two goal-scorers, Murphy and Avery Schone, each had four shots with three on goal. DiTusa took six shots with five on goal to go along with her two assists. Senior goalkeeper Maya Etienne (Midland, Michigan) made two saves on the way toward her 31st career shutout.
The Screaming Eagles will carry their two-match winning streak on the road Sunday with a 1 p.m. match against the Northern Illinois Huskies from DeKalb, Illinois. Live video coverage will be available on NIU All-Access with a paid subscription.
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