EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer scored twice in the second half Sunday afternoon to defeat Western Illinois University 2-0 at Strassweg Field, capping off Senior Day for the Screaming Eagles.
After a scoreless first half, USI Women's Soccer (2-7-5, 1-0-2 OVC) finished off two set-piece opportunities in the second half to top Western Illinois (1-13-0, 0-3-0 OVC) and claim three points in the Ohio Valley Conference standings.
Sophomore forward
Anna Depenbrock started the scoring in the 59
th minute, scoring her first goal of the season and recording her second career game-winning goal. Coincidentally, Depenbrock's first game-winning goal came last season on the road against Western Illinois. Junior defender
Emma Schut extended USI's lead in the 65
th minute, tallying her third goal of the season and second within the last two matches for the Screaming Eagles.
Overall, USI took 18 shots with nine on goal. Five Screaming Eagles logged two or more shot attempts on Sunday. Freshman forward
Elle Leece led the team with three shots and was one of three Screaming Eagles with two shots on goal. Depenbrock placed both of her shots on target alongside junior forward
Josie Pochocki. Senior
Eva Boer and graduate senior
Payton Seymour each had two shots and one on frame.
Defensively, USI's collective effort was very strong on Sunday, as USI held Western Illinois to only one shot for the entire match.
The Screaming Eagles started the match aggressively and on the attack, generating multiple close chances. Pochocki created two threatening attacks from the left side in the first 20-plus minutes, but Western Illinois' goalkeeper saved both. Seymour and Depenbrock also had two quality looks saved over the next few minutes. Leece came off the bench and provided a spark late in the first half, forcing the Leathernecks' goalkeeper to make two more solid saves right before the half, which kept the match tied at zero going into halftime.
While the Screaming Eagles had fewer offensive opportunities in the second half, USI capitalized on the ones they did get. A corner kick near the 58-minute mark led to Depenbrock's first goal, putting USI ahead 1-0 after an assist from senior midfielder
Kamryn Bea. The play was USI's first shot of the second half. After a couple more attempts, USI capitalized on a short free kick in the attacking third when Schut cleaned up a scrum in front of the goal to double USI's lead to 2-0. The added insurance held for the rest of the match, as the Screaming Eagles' defense held the Leathernecks without a shot all second half.
With Sunday's win and three points in OVC play, USI moved up to third in the conference standings with five total points. Western Illinois remains tied at the bottom of the standings alongside Morehead State University.
Before Sunday's kickoff, the Screaming Eagles celebrated Senior Day, recognizing
Eva Boer and
Kamryn Bea. Sunday was also Alumni Day, with several USI Women's Soccer alumni in attendance and recognized at halftime.
The Screaming Eagles will prepare for two OVC road matches this week, starting Thursday at 6 p.m. at Lindenwood University.
