EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana women's soccer team posted a dominating 5-0 shutout of Drury University Friday evening at Strassweg Field. USI goes to 7-4-4 overall and 5-3-4 in GLVC play, while Drury ends the match 6-7-2 overall, 4-7-1 in the league.
 
The victory kept USI in a tie for fourth place in the GLVC with Bellarmine University, which defeated Rockhurst University earlier this afternoon, 1-0. The top eight teams in the GLVC advance to the league's post-season tournament with the top four squads earning the right to host a first round contest. 
 
USI started the scoring early, flying out to a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of the contest. Senior forward Haley Rheinlander (Evansville, Indiana) recorded the first tally of the half and her fourth of the season off passes from senior midfielder Carlie Scales (Evansville, Indiana) and senior midfielder Alexa Kelpe (Cape Girardeau, Missouri) at 3:40.
 
Kelpe extended USI's margin to 2-0 at 14:23 when she recorded her first tally of the season. She fired home a shot from in front of the goal after receiving a pass from sophomore defender Loryn Willis (Cynthiana, Indiana).
 
The Eagles cruised into the intermission with a 3-0 advantage after freshman forward Maggie Winter (St. Louis, Missouri) logged her fourth tally of the season off a corner kick by sophomore midfielder Caroline Canoy (St. Peters, Missouri) at 39:57.
 
In the second half, USI picked up where it left off when junior midfielder Olivia Wilde (Racine, Wisconsin) scored on a penalty kick to make the lead 4-0 at 49:00. The goal was Wilde's first of the season.
 
The Eagles finished the scoring at 85:34 when Scales posted her second goal of the year, scoring from 30 yards out. She was assisted on the tally by junior forward Ryley Hancock (Evansville, Indiana) and Kelpe.
 
Between the posts, junior goalkeeper Emily Hopkins (Greenfield, Indiana) got her seventh win and sixth shutout of the season. Hopkins blanked the Panthers by facing five shots and making four saves.
 
USI continues its homestand Sunday the annual Senior Day and Kick for the Cure match when it hosts Missouri University of Science & Technology at noon. Ceremonies to honor USI's four seniors will be held prior to the match.
 
Missouri S&T saw its record go to 1-12-1 overall, 1-10-1 in the league after losing in double-overtime to McKendree University,1-0, tonight in Lebanon, Illinois.
 
USI leads the all-time series with Missouri S&T, 9-5-0, despite falling on the road last year, 3-1. The Eagles have won six of the last eight meeting with the Miners since 2009.
 
The homestand and the 2017 regular season finale is Wednesday when the Eagles welcome McKendree to Strassweg Field. Kickoff for the USI-McKendree match-up is slated for 5 p.m.  
 
Follow the live coverage of USI women's soccer matches, including live stats and video, on GoUSIEagles.com.