EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer makes its 2025 regular-season home debut Sunday when the Screaming Eagles host Cleveland State University at 1 p.m. from Strassweg Field.
 
Admission to Sunday's home match and all 2025 USI Soccer regular-season home games is free courtesy of ProRehab. The game also coincides with USI's Welcome Week on campus. Sunday's match can also be seen with a subscription to ESPN+.
 
USI is 1-0-2 in its home-opening game since making the jump to Division I in 2022. Sunday's contest is the first meeting between USI and Cleveland State.
 
The Screaming Eagles fell on the road Thursday to open the 2025 campaign and the program's 30^th season, dropping a 6-0 decision at the University of Nebraska. It was USI's first matchup against a major conference opponent in regular-season action.
 
The Cornhuskers snuck a goal by in the first 90 seconds Thursday and went on to lead 2-0 at the break. Coming out of halftime, Nebraska tallied two quick goals in the first five minutes of the second half to double its lead. Nebraska's final two goals came in the latter stages of the game. The Cornhuskers recorded their six tallies on 24 shot attempts and 11 on frame.
 
Southern Indiana posted six shots with four on goal in the season-opening contest. Redshirt junior midfielder Emma Thurston, junior defender Kamryn Bea, junior forward Grace Bamber, and freshman attacker Anna Depenbrock each notched a shot on goal for USI. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Anna Markland made four saves.
 
For Thurston, the midfielder had a solid showing in 81 minutes played against Nebraska in her return to the field for the Screaming Eagles in regular-season play after missing the entire 2024 season due to injury.
 
Redshirt freshman defender Ava Hess, who also missed the entire 2024 season due to injury, made her official USI debut with 83 minutes of action on USI's defensive line. Hess earned the second centerback starting spot out of the spring season and preseason camp.
 
Cleveland State is also 0-1-0 to begin the 2025 season following a 1-0 defeat against Kent State University. A goal in the middle of the first half by the Golden Flashes held for the remainder of the match. Cleveland State was outshot 16-3 overall and 8-0 in shots on goal.
 
Senior midfielder Mayra Sesmas is the leading returner for the Vikings in 2025. Last season, Sesmas topped the squad with five goals and 11 points while taking a team-high 40 shots. Sesmas registered one of Cleveland State's shots on Thursday against Kent State.
 
In goal, it is a changing of the guard this season for the Vikings. Redshirt junior Hayleigh Lewis, a transfer from Bowling Green State University, made her debut for the Vikings in Thursday's opener with seven saves.
 
Cleveland State went 2-14-1 overall and 2-8-0 in the Horizon League in 2024. Both of Cleveland State's wins last year came in the final three games. The Vikings were picked 11^th in the 2025 Horizon League preseason poll.
 
Following Sunday's matchup, Southern Indiana will head back on the road for two consecutive games. First, the Screaming Eagles travel to Robert Morris University for a 3 p.m. CT contest on Thursday. USI tied Robert Morris 2-2 at home last season. Then, USI will make a stop at the University of Akron next Sunday for a Noon CT kickoff in the first meeting against the Zips.