BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team celebrated Senior Day with a key 2-0 shutout win over Northern Iowa Saturday afternoon at McCutchan Stadium.  With just two matches remaining, the Aces are now 2-1-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
Freshman Kayla Smith scored the game-winning goal in the 54th minute and junior Stephanie Thompson added an insurance goal on a free kick in the 75th minute, as Evansville shut down the Panthers in the second half, holding UNI without a shot on goal over the final 45 minutes.
 
Northern Iowa controlled the action in the early part of the first half earning three corner kicks, but managed just two shots, both taken by Melissa Hagen.  Hagen put one of her two chances on frame, forcing UE goalkeeper Simone Busby to make a save.
 
Evansville regrouped and pushed the Panthers back into their defensive third in the latter half of the period, taking four shots and putting two on goal. 
 
The Aces’ best chance came with 15 minutes remaining in the stanza, when Abby Springer  created a breakaway opportunity, gaining possession deep in the UNI defensive third.  However, Springer was unable to get a shot off after Panther keeper Erin Zaideman dove at the feet of Springer and smothered the ball to end the threat. 
 
After a scoreless first half, Smith got Evansville on the board in the 54th minute, finishing from close range off a pass from Tatiana Pagan.  Pagan played a through ball to Smith past a UNI defender, allowing Smith to dribble in and finish uncontested from five yards out.
 
The Aces continued to apply pressure and earned a free kick from just outside the left edge of the 18 yard box in the 75th minute.  Thompson took advantage of the set piece, bending a quick shot inside the far post after it took a deflection off the hand of Zaideman.
 
Northern Iowa pushed numbers forward  late in the contest, but the UE defense stood firm and did not allow the Panthers to bother Busby in the second half despite three corner kicks.
 
Smith led UE with four shots, putting two on goal, while Springer finished the afternoon with a trio of shots to her credit.   Busby notched her third shutout of the season to improve to 2-1-3 on the year, making just one save in the first half.
 
The Aces will be back on their home pitch for their next game when they host Indiana State Wednesday afternoon at 4p.m.  UE will then close the regular season next Saturday with a 4:30 p.m. match at Creighton.