USI Women’s Soccer’s Grafton and Thurston named to OVC All-Tournament Team EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer senior defender Charli Grafton and redshirt junior midfielder Emma Thurston were named to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Tournament Team on Sunday. Grafton and Thurston played a significant role in helping USI Women’s Soccer capture its first-ever OVC Tournament wins against Southeast Missouri State University and Eastern Illinois University and reach the semifinals for the first time since joining the conference in 2022. The two captains also led a defensive effort, while locking down the middle of the field, that saw the Screaming Eagles post three consecutive shutouts in the tournament, keeping the opposition off the scoreboard for 290 minutes in postseason play. In fact, USI ended the season with its longest defensive scoreless streak of the season, spanning 386 consecutive shutout minutes, dating back to the game against Lindenwood University on October 19. Offensively, Grafton scored two of USI’s five goals during the OVC Tournament. Both of Grafton’s goals were game-winners and came off set pieces. The first goal was off a corner kick against Southeast Missouri late in the second half, and the second goal was off a short-corner free kick against Eastern Illinois in the first half. Thurston assisted on both of Grafton’s goals. Thurston totaled three assists during the tournament while also recording three shots with two on goal. At the OVC Tournament, USI went 2-0-1 as the No. 5 seed. The Screaming Eagles opened postseason play with a 2-0 win against eighth-seeded Southeast Missouri. USI then won in the quarterfinals against Eastern Illinois, 3-0, to advance to the second weekend of the tournament. In the semifinals, USI battled top-seeded Tennessee Tech University scoreless through regulation and extra time for 110 minutes to send the match to a penalty-kick shootout. However, Tennessee Tech went on to advance by winning in penalty kicks, 4-3. USI Women’s Soccer has made the OVC Tournament in each season since joining the conference in 2022. USI has also been among the final six teams reaching at least the quarterfinal round in each of the last three seasons. 2025 marked USI’s deepest run yet as a semifinalist. 2025 OVC WOMEN’S SOCCER ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM Maggie Conrad, Tennessee Tech (MVP) Katie Toney, Tennessee Tech Melina Hamm, Tennessee Tech Ebba Melin, Tennessee Tech Mackenzie Compton, Lindenwood Rachel Jackson, Lindenwood Anna Johnson, Lindenwood Amaya Arias, Little Rock Megan Rogan, Little Rock Charli Grafton, Southern Indiana Emma Thurston, Southern Indiana Media Contacts: Ray Simmons, Director of Athletic Communication (Office) 812-465-1622; (Cell) 812-760-9582 Dan McDonnell, Assoc. Dir. of Athletic Communication (Office) 812-465-1121; (Cell) 812-589-2956 Preston Leinenbach, Asst. Dir. of Athletic Communication (Office) 812-465-7094; (Cell) 812-549-6501 Eric Reynolds, Graduate Asst. Athletic Communications Kelstin Galovic, Graduate Asst. Athletic Communications Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana enrolls nearly 9,500 dual credit, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in more than 130 areas of study. A public higher education institution, located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, USI offers programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions, Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education and School of Graduate Studies. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University and offers continuing education and special programs to more than 15,000 participants annually through Outreach and Engagement. A competitive member of NCAA Division I and the Ohio Valley Conference, USI offers 19 varsity intercollegiate men’s and women’s sports. USI is online at www.usi.edu. For more on USI Athletics visit USIscreamingeagles.com.