EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer dropped a 3-0 decision in a battle against Purdue University on Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field.
Despite a strong effort by the Screaming Eagles (0-3-2), the Boilermakers (5-0-1) remained undefeated after scoring three goals in an 11-minute span in the middle of the match. The contest was scoreless through the first 36 minutes and for the last 43-plus minutes.
Statistically, USI tallied seven shots and four on goal, while USI's defense held Purdue, the top attacking team in the nation heading into Sunday's match, to its season low of 21 shots taken and eight shots on goal. Freshmen midfielders
Shea Krakowski and
Liza Anderson led the Screaming Eagles with two shots each. Krakowski had a team-high two shots on target. Sophomore goalkeeper
Merrick Schwalbach matched her career high with five saves in goal.
USI Women's Soccer nearly started Sunday's match with a bang, as Krakowski fired a shot just past a minute into the contest from outside the top of the box that nearly snuck in under the crossbar but was punched over the goal by Purdue's keeper. After a stretch of time that saw Schwalbach make three saves to keep the game scoreless, Krakowski placed another shot on goal in the 27
th minute that was saved.
Following the back-and-forth play for most of the first half, Purdue struck first in the 37
th minute off a corner kick to take a 1-0 advantage. The Boilermakers ended up taking a 2-0 lead into halftime after scoring again right before the final second of the opening half.
Out of the halftime break, Purdue scored just over a minute into the second half to build a 3-0 lead. Later in the half, Anderson and sophomore midfielder
Anna Depenbrock each placed a shot on goal, but USI could not find a breakthrough at the net. Meanwhile, USI's defense shut out Purdue for the rest of the match.
The Screaming Eagles will wrap up their two-match home set at Strassweg Field on Thursday at 4 p.m. against Arkansas State University for Greek Appreciation Day. The home contest precedes a four-match road stretch for USI Women's Soccer.
