EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer kicks off the 2023 season on the road Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT against Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Thursday's matchup will technically be the first all-time meeting between the two schools after last year's game at USI was abandoned and declared a no-contest at halftime due to inclement weather.
USI enters the 2023 season after going 5-8-4 overall and 1-5-2 in conference play last season. The 2022 season was USI's inaugural season in NCAA Division I and as an Ohio Valley Conference member. USI finished last season with a berth in the OVC Tournament, but the Screaming Eagles fell in the first-round match against Lindenwood, 2-1.
The 2023 USI squad features 31 players - 17 returning players and 14 newcomers. Head Coach Eric Schoenstein heads into his eighth season at the helm and 10th overall season on the USI coaching staff. In the previous seven seasons as head coach of the Screaming Eagles, Schoenstein has accumulated a 70-44-18 record.
Returning for the Screaming Eagles in 2023 include senior midfielder Avery Schone (Galena, Ohio) and sophomore defender Charli Grafton (Sunriver, Oregon), both of whom scored a goal last season while holding down USI's defensive midfield. USI also has senior leadership this coming season in defender Alexis Schone (Galena, Ohio) and midfielder Paige Vanek (St. Charles, Missouri). The two combined for 15 shots last season. Alexis Schone also tallied two assists.
Also returning is last year's leading scorer in sophomore midfielder Peyton Murphy (Bargersville, Indiana), who was named to the 2023 OVC Preseason Players to Watch List. Murphy paced the team last season with five goals, 12 points, 25 shot attempts, and 16 shots on goal, starting all 17 matches as a freshman. Murphy was named to the 2022 OVC All-Newcomer Team.
USI lost eight seniors to graduation and two fifth-year seniors from the 2022 roster, including five goal scorers from a season ago. Plus, the 2023 campaign will feature a changing of the guard in front of goal.
USI was projected to place seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference in a vote submitted by the league's head coaches and communication directors. Tennessee Tech University topped the OVC preseason poll with 156 points and 12 first-place votes. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was picked second with 146 points and eight first-place votes.
IUPUI went 9-4-6 last season with a 4-3-3 record in Horizon League play, which landed the Jaguars a sixth-place finish. IUPUI won in the quarterfinal round of the 2022 Horizon League Tournament before falling in the semifinals against the No. 1 seed University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
The Jaguars return six of their top eight scorers from a season ago. Pacing the returning goal-scorers is senior forward Emma Antoine, who tallied six goals, two assists, and 14 points. She placed 12 of 19 shots on goal. Junior goalkeeper Ashton Kudlo returns in the net for IUPUI after starting 16 matches, recording a 0.88 goals against average with 59 saves. Kudlo split time with sophomore keeper Cailynn Junk, who made three starts last season.
Thursday's match can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. Additional coverage links are on the USI Women's Soccer schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
