EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer concludes a two-match road swing on Sunday when the Screaming Eagles visit the University of Akron for a Noon CT kickoff.
Sunday's match is the first-ever meeting between the two programs and can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+.
USI Women's Soccer (0-3-0) is coming off a 2-0 loss at Robert Morris University on Thursday to begin the road trip. It was USI's second consecutive 2-0 setback against a Horizon League team after a visit from Cleveland State University at Strassweg Field last Sunday.
In Thursday's bout against the Colonials, shot totals were nearly even at 15-14 in favor of Robert Morris. The Colonials place seven shots on goal compared to USI's one. Over the last two outings, the Screaming Eagles have outshot their opponents by a combined 35-22 overall. Shots on goal have been tied 10-10 over the last two games.
Senior forward
Emerson Grafton and graduate student
Maggie Duggan, who are one and two in leading the Eagles in shots this season, combined for half of USI's shots on Thursday. Grafton tallied four shots, while Duggan recorded three attempts. Both rank in the top 10 of the Ohio Valley Conference with 10 and eight shots, respectively, on the season.
On the defensive end, redshirt goalkeeper
Anna Markland matched her season total with five saves off 15 shots faced on Thursday. Markland has started all three matches in goal for USI. Freshman defender
Tierney Mullady played 79 minutes in her first career start and notched one shot. After Markland in goal, redshirt freshman
Ava Hess leads USI's field players with 253 minutes of action, having started all three matches at centerback in her debut season on the field for the Eagles.
Akron (1-1-1) suffered a 3-0 loss at the University of West Virginia last time out on Thursday. The Zips trailed 1-0 at halftime before the Mountaineers added a pair of insurance goals in the second half. Akron was held without a shot while facing 19 shots and eight on goal from West Virginia.
Before Thursday's road match at West Virginia, Akron opened its home slate with a 1-0 win over Eastern Illinois University, which USI will see later this season in OVC play. Akron's lone goal in the contest and of the season so far came in the first 15 minutes.
Akron freshman defender Luisa Fragnoli owns possession of the team's only goal this season off a pair of assists from senior defender Rielly Chesna and sophomore midfielder Allie McMillen. Senior forward Emma King paces the Zips' attack with 10 shots and seven on target this season. Between the posts, junior goalkeeper Sara Bower has started all three matches and has 13 saves with a 1.11 goals against average.
Following Sunday's match, USI heads back home for a three-match homestand. The homestand begins Thursday at 1 p.m. when the Screaming Eagles host Eastern Michigan University at Strassweg Field, featuring free admission courtesy of ProRehab.
