CHARLESTON, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer posted a 3-0 shutout in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals against Eastern Illinois University on Sunday afternoon, earning the Screaming Eagles’ first trip to the conference tournament semifinals.
On the heels of the program’s first OVC Tournament win last Thursday in the first round, USI Women’s Soccer (9-7-4, 4-2-3 OVC) doubled up with a second one on Sunday. The quarterfinal match pitted the fifth-seeded Eagles against fourth-seeded Eastern Illinois (8-8-3, 5-3-1 OVC). The game was a rematch from USI’s previous road trip to Charleston, Illinois, on October 9, which ended in a 1-1 tie.
The USI seniors led the goal scoring on Sunday. Senior defender Charli Grafton provided the game’s first tally and her second of the tournament. Senior forward Peyton Murphy scored a two-goal brace, with the first coming seconds after Grafton’s goal and another shortly after halftime.
Statistically, USI controlled the shot totals 14-12 overall and 4-3 in shots on goal. Four Screaming Eagles had multiple shot attempts. Sophomore defender Emma Schut led USI with four shots. Redshirt sophomore forward Eva Boer had three shots and an assist.
The Screaming Eagles came out of the gates with high energy and surrounded the Panthers’ defense, recording three shots in the first 10 minutes. While Eastern Illinois settled and flipped field position in the middle of the first half, USI stayed poised and flipped the possession and field position back in its favor.
In the 28th minute, USI earned a short-corner free kick. Redshirt junior midfielder Emma Thurston, who had a service assist in Thursday’s first-round win, delivered a cross into Grafton for a header goal to put USI ahead, 1-0. Then, not even 30 seconds later, the Eagles forced the Panthers’ defense into a turnover in the defensive third. Then a few connections led Murphy into a sliding goal to double USI’s lead to 2-0.
While Eastern Illinois tried to respond with a few shot attempts down the stretch of the first half, redshirt junior goalkeeper Anna Markland made two of her three saves in the game to maintain USI’s 2-0 lead into halftime.
Nearly seven minutes into the second half, USI earned a free kick from about 25 yards out. Thurston sent the kick in and off the gloves of the EIU goalkeeper. Off the deflected save, Murphy stepped up and put the ball into the net for her second goal of the match and extended the Eagles’ advantage to 3-0.
Following the two goals on Sunday, Murphy moved inside the top 15 in USI’s all-time history in goals (14) and points (40). Murphy is USI’s all-time leading scorer in the Division I era.
After taking a 3-0 lead, USI remained locked in. As the Panthers ramped up the intensity, trying to answer and come back, the Screaming Eagles stood tall and turned away Eastern Illinois in the remaining minutes of the game.
With Sunday’s victory, USI Women’s Soccer advanced to Thursday’s semifinals. The Screaming Eagles will travel to the championship-site host and top-seeded Tennessee Tech University (6-6-7, 6-0-3 OVC). Kickoff Thursday is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Cookeville, Tennessee. Tennessee Tech is coming off a double-bye after winning the OVC regular-season championship. The winner will advance to next Sunday’s championship match.
