EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer kicks off a brief two-match homestand in Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday when the Screaming Eagles host the University of Tennessee at Martin for a 7 p.m. contest at Strassweg Field. USI takes a three-match unbeaten streak into play Thursday.
Thursday is Student Appreciation Night at Strassweg Field. There will be free pizza for USI students while supplies last.
Southern Indiana (1-6-3, 0-0-1 OVC) earned a pair of ties with a victory sandwiched in between in its last three matches, bouncing back and rewarded with results after a losing skid during the non-conference season. During USI's unbeaten streak, the Screaming Eagles have tied their opponents with 31 total shot attempts (16-8 in the first half and 15-23 in the second half). That is quite the turnaround compared to the two matches prior to the 0-0 draw at Austin Peay State University on September 12. In the two matches before the Austin Peay match, USI was outshot 38-16 overall and 16-2 in shots on goal. Plus, the Eagles scored in back-to-back outings after a lengthy scoreless drought before USI's 2-1 win on September 15 against Bellarmine University.
The Screaming Eagles opened the OVC schedule on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against Southeast Missouri State University to pick up a point in the league standings. USI struck early with a fourth-minute goal by freshman midfielder
Emma Schut, her first career goal. SEMO tied the match early in the second half. Both teams had potential game-winning chances in the last few minutes, but neither side could put the ball in the back of the net. USI goalkeeper
Anna Markland returned to the lineup with five saves.
On the season, sophomore midfielder
Greta Ohlwein and redshirt freshman
Eva Boer pace USI with two goals scored. All four goals by the two attacking players have come at home. Junior forward
Payton Seymour and sophomore midfielder
Pilar Torres lead USI with 12 shots. Torres had a team-high three shots against Southeast Missouri. Between the posts, Markland has a 1.93 GAA and 34 saves.
As a team, Southern Indiana averages 10.1 shots per game and 4.2 shots on goal per outing. USI is top five in the OVC in overall shots and shots per game. USI has also found success earning set-piece opportunities, especially corner kicks. The Eagles pace the OVC with 52 corners.
UT Martin (2-4-3, 1-0-0 OVC) comes to USI with results in its last two matches, including a 2-1 victory in the OVC opener on Sunday against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. After a scoreless deadlock through the first 45 minutes against the Cougars, the first 10 minutes of the second half was a scoring frenzy. The Skyhawks scored consecutive goals before the Cougars answered seconds after UT Martin's second goal. UT Martin shut out SIUE the rest of the way for the win despite SIUE outshooting the Skyhawks, 20-11 overall and 10-3 in shots on goal.
Senior forward Makayla Robinson tops UT Martin with three goals, including one last time out against SIUE. Robinson is tied for the team's points lead alongside senior midfielder Izzy Patterson with seven points. Patterson has two goals, a team-best three assists, and a team-high 29 shot attempts. In goal, senior keeper Mac Titus has made all nine starts, posting a 1.65 GAA and an OVC second-best 58 saves.
As a team, UT Martin averages 13 shots per outing and 5.9 shots on goal per game. The Skyhawks have a shot-on-goal percentage of 45.3 percent. UT Martin ranks top three in the OVC in shots and shots on target.
Thursday's match is the third all-time meeting between Southern Indiana and UT Martin. The Skyhawks won the first meeting in the last matchup at Strassweg Field in 2022, 1-0. Last season, the two sides battled in Martin, Tennessee to a 1-1 draw.
Thursday'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.
