EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer plays its non-conference finale at Strassweg Field Sunday when the Screaming Eagles host former Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Bellarmine University for a 1 p.m. contest.
 
As part of USI's children's cancer awareness weekend at Strassweg Field, USI Women's Soccer and Archie's Army are helping raise childhood cancer awareness with a redout game on Sunday. Everyone is encouraged to wear red for Riley Hospital. The first 150 fans will receive a free red rally flag.
 
Southern Indiana (0-6-2) seeks its second consecutive result and first win of 2024 on Sunday. Last time out, USI snapped a five-match skid with a scoreless draw on the road at Austin Peay State University on Thursday. The 0-0 deadlock was USI's first road result, as the Screaming Eagles' other tie came at home in August against Robert Morris University.
 
The Eagles' scoreless draw at Austin Peay on Thursday was USI's first shutout of the season. The game featured physical play, stifling defense, and heavy rain. Just as they did in last year's home win against Austin Peay, Southern Indiana held the Governors without a shot attempt in the first 45 minutes on Thursday.
 
In addition to USI's strong defensive play against Austin Peay, Southern Indiana also received solid goalkeeping. Redshirt sophomore Anna Markland started the match with a first-half shutout of Austin Peay before senior Zoe Lintner took over in the second half with four key saves, as the two combined for the team clean sheet.
 
Offensively, Southern Indiana had 13 shots with five on goal. Junior defender Brynn Quick had a team-high four shots, which matched the most taken by a USI player this season. Junior midfielder Emerson Grafton had three shots, two on goal, including one off the crossbar. Sophomore midfielder Kerigan Kivisto also took three shot attempts.
 
During the season, USI has scored four goals by three different players. The Eagles are looking to find the back of the net for the first time in nearly two weeks. Southern Indiana is averaging 10.4 shots and 4.3 shots on goal per outing.
 
Southern Indiana plays its third and final Atlantic Sun Conference team in Bellarmine on Sunday. USI has gone 0-1-1 in the previous two matches against ASUN opponents with a 1-0 loss at Eastern Kentucky University in August and a 0-0 tie at Austin Peay on Thursday.
 
Bellarmine enters Sunday with a 1-4-1 record this season. The Knights faced another former GLVC school in their last game on Thursday. Bellarmine came up short, 1-0, at Northern Kentucky University. The game's only goal came in the 74^th minute. Bellarmine was held to six shots and one on target.
 
The Knights are led offensively by senior attacker Emma Nicholson, who paces the squad with four goals, 10 points, and 19 shots with nine on goal. However, her four goals came in one match on August 25 against Asbury University (Ky.). Junior forward Lucy von Stefenelli, who scored the team's last goal on September 5 against Indiana State University, has found the back of the net three times this season along with sophomore midfielder Rachel Skyberg. The Knights average 13.5 shots and six shots on frame per match.
 
Between the posts, senior goalkeeper Cambria Kingman is the reigning ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week based on her performance for Bellarmine the week prior against Indiana State. Kingman has started all six matches for the Knights and has posted a 2.80 goals against average with 34 saves this season.
 
Sunday's match renews an old rivalry between Southern Indiana and Bellarmine. The 28^th all-time meeting on Sunday will be the first of the D-I era for both schools. The two sides have not met since 2019 when Bellarmine came away with a 1-0 victory. The all-time series dates to 1996.
 
Sunday's game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. Additional coverage links are available on the USI Women's Soccer schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.