BOX SCORE

OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer team saw its season come to an end Friday afternoon in Omaha, Neb., as the Purple Aces fell, 2-1, to No. 5 seed Indiana State in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
 
Junior Stephanie Thompson scored a late goal for the Purple Aces (5-8-3), but a pair of first-half goals by Indiana State (8-9-3) proved to be enough for the Sycamores, as they advanced to Sunday’s title match.
 
ISU got off to a quick start and took an early lead in the 25th minute on a goal by Bria Caldwell.  Caldwell dribbled around a pair of Evansville defenders, before sending a low, driving shot from the top, left corner of the 18-yard box inside the far post.
 
Indiana State doubled its lead in the 38 th minute, when Caldwell was credited with an assist on Sydney Lovelace’s fourth goal of the year.  Caldwell delivered a short pass to Lovelace in the middle of the field, who sent a left-footed shot into the upper, right corner of the net from 25 yards out.
 
ISU held the Aces to just two shots in the first 45 minutes, while firing 13.  The Sycamores also earned all three first-half corner kick chances and forced Evansville goalkeeper Simone Busby to make seven first-half saves.
 
Evansville regrouped at half time and battled back in the second half, taking nine shots to ISU’s three and creating several opportunities in front of the Indiana State net.
 
Thompson finally broke through for UE with an unassisted goal, her fifth of the year, in the 78th minute and the Aces pushed numbers forward over the final 15 minutes, but could not find the equalizer and Indiana State held on for a 2-1 victory.
 
Thompson and freshman Kayla Smith led UE offensively with three shots each and combined for six of Evansville’s eight shots on goal.  Busby ended the evening with nine saves, as her record fell to 4-2-3.
 
For the match, the Sycamores outshot the Aces, 16-11, and took the only four corner kicks of the match.
 
UE finishes its season with a 5-8-3 overall record and claimed its first MVC regular-season championship since 2008 by finishing 4-1-1 in league play.  Indiana State will play the winner of the Illinois State/Creighton match Sunday afternoon for the MVC Tournament title.