EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Soccer closes its two-match home set Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Screaming Eagles host Arkansas State University at Strassweg Field.
 
Thursday's game was moved to 7 p.m. from its original 4 p.m. start because of the forecast extreme heat. Admission to Thursday's match and all USI Women's Soccer home matches is free thanks to ProRehab.
 
Thursday's match will not be streamed on ESPN+. Live stats and coverage are available at usiscreamingeagles.com.
 
USI Women's Soccer (0-3-2) heads into Thursday's tilt under the lights coming off a 3-0 home loss last Sunday against Purdue University. Statistically, USI tallied seven shots and four on goal, while its defense held Purdue, the nation's top attacking team heading into the match, to its season-low 21 shots and eight on goal.
 
Freshmen midfielders Shea Krakowski and Liza Anderson led the Screaming Eagles with two shots each against Purdue. Krakowski had a team-high two shots on target. Sophomore goalkeeper Merrick Schwalbach matched her career high with five saves in goal.
 
This season, junior forward Josie Pochocki and graduate forward Payton Seymour are tied for the team lead with nine shots taken. Pochocki is also tied with sophomore midfielder Olivia Hass with a team-high four shots on goal. Junior defender Emma Schut owns USI's lone goal so far. In goal, Schwalbach has a 1.40 GAA with 18 saves and two shutouts.
 
Thursday's match will be USI's last home game until September 20, as the Screaming Eagles get set to embark on a four-match road stretch over the next two weeks. USI started the season with five of its first six matches at home.
 
Arkansas State (1-2-2) enters Thursday unbeaten in its last three matches, going 1-0-2. The Red Wolves are only set to play their second road match so far, as they opened the season at Lipscomb University. A road trip to Mississippi State University on August 20 was canceled. With the cancellation, Arkansas State has played four straight at home.
 
The Red Wolves are coming off a 2-2 tie on Sunday against Alabama State University. Arkansas State led 2-1 in the middle of the second half before Alabama State scored an equalizer. Arkansas State outshot Alabama State 24-8 overall and 10-5 in shots on goal.
 
Freshman midfielder Elleigh Newcomb leads Arkansas State in scoring, accounting for three of the team's seven goals, while also having the most shots with nine taken. Junior forward Lucia Flores is second on the squad with two goals. Between the posts, senior goalkeeper Taylor Sweat has played every minute, posting a 1.60 GAA with 16 saves.
 
The Screaming Eagles and Red Wolves have met only once before, in 2024 at Arkansas State. Arkansas State came away with a 3-0 victory.
 
Fans can stay up to date on the action by following USI Women's Soccer on X (@usiwsoc).