RICHMOND, KY (WFIE) – The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team fell just short in the first part of their two-game road trip, losing 1-0 to Eastern Kentucky University on Sunday afternoon.

Southern Indiana (0-2-1) was unlucky early when a shot from Eastern Kentucky (1-3-0) bounced off the glove of the redshirt sophomore goalkeeper near the penalty spot. Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama), from the post into the goal.

The Colonels, a high-volume team on Sunday, continued to pressure and challenge USI. The Screaming Eagles defense held up to the challenge and kept the score at one goal.

USI won the ball in the 25th minute and changed position into the attacking third. Experienced midfielder Maggie Duggan (Defiance, Missouri) fired the first shot of the game for USI just before the water break, which was saved by EKU’s veteran goalkeeper Marah Krick.

Later, the Screaming Eagles had another good opportunity when the junior defender Brynn Quick (Cottage Grove, Minn.) sent a free kick from the halfway line straight at goal, forcing the Colonels’ goalie to make a diving save. After an impressive save by Markland at the other end late in the first period, Quick had another free kick on goal and made the save. Sunday was the second straight game in which Quick had two shots on goal.

Eastern Kentucky looked to build on its 1-0 halftime lead and continued its aggressive attack with plenty of shots in the second half. USI’s defense continued to hold strong, blocking several shots.

Markland and senior keeper Zoe Lintner (Wildwood, Missouri), who entered the game midway through the second half for the final 26-plus minutes of the game, continued to thwart EKU’s attempts to defend with several saves.

Despite a solid defensive effort that kept the Screaming Eagles within reach of a 1-0 lead, USI was unable to break through. Southern Indiana had another potential chance to tie the score on a corner kick midway through the second half, when a header from the junior midfielder Peyton Murphy (Bargersville, Indiana) couldn’t find a gap behind the goal line.

Southern Indiana faced 22 shots from Eastern Kentucky on defense, but held the Colonels to eight shots on goal. USI finished the game with eight shots, four of which were on goal. Junior forward Payton Seymour (Louisville, Kentucky) was the team’s best player with two shots on goal in the game. Markland and Lintner between the posts made a total of six saves, four and two, respectively.

USI will complete the final half of its two-game road trip with a trip to DeKalb, Illinois, on Thursday to face Northern Illinois University. Kickoff on Thursday is at 4 p.m. Links to coverage of the game can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.

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