EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer opens its 2023 home schedule from Strassweg Field Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Screaming Eagles take on the University of North Alabama.
 
USI (0-1-0) began the 2023 season with a 2-0 defeat on the road Thursday at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). After three shots by USI within the first five minutes, IUPUI took hold of momentum with a goal in each half. The match also featured a heavy downpour at the start of the second half, which changed the field conditions.
 
Statistically, USI was led by sophomore midfielder Peyton Murphy (Bargersville, Indiana) and junior midfielder Maggie Duggan (Defiance, Missouri) with two shots and one on goal each. USI totaled eight shots. Sophomore goalkeeper Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama) tallied three saves on 12 shots faced in her first career start.
 
Southern Indiana will look to continue its recent success in home debuts, having not lost in a home opener since 2020. Last season, USI defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 4-0 in the first home match.
 
Sunday will be the sixth meeting of all time between USI and North Alabama, as USI holds the slight upper hand with a 2-1-2 record, including a 1-0-1 mark at home. However, in the relatively small series history, USI has not captured a win since the 2008 season. Last year, the two sides played to a 0-0 draw in Florence, Alabama.
 
North Alabama is coming off a 1-0 loss at Belmont University on Thursday to begin its season, despite the Lions outshooting the Bruins 10-3. Senior forward Alice Bussey led North Alabama with four shots in the match. Bussey paced the Lions in 2022 with six goals, 13 points, and 40 shots. The Lions went 5-8-5 in 2022, including a 2-6-2 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
 
Sunday'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.