Box Score

BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Sophomore Abby Springer set the tone for the University of Evansville women's soccer team Friday night at Arad McCutchan Stadium by scoring the first goal of the match just 17 seconds after the opening whistle, as the Purple Aces went on to defeat visiting Belmont, 3-0.
 
Fellow sophomore Kayla Smith was responsible for the other two Evansville (4-2-1) goals, as the Aces outshot Belmont (2-3-0), 29-9, en route to their second-straight victory.  Sophomore goalkeeper Simone Busby picked up the clean sheet by making a pair of saves in the win.
 
UE made the most of its first possession, as Smith took the opening kickoff a few yards up field, before delivering a pass to the far side of the box to Springer, who scored her first goal of the year by firing a shot inside the far post to give Evansville the early 1-0 advantage. 
 
Smith once again got her name on the score sheet in the 15th minute, when she collected a pass from junior Tatiana Pagan just inside the right side of the box and slipped a shot past Bruin goalkeeper Nicole Berner to put the Aces up 2-0.
 
UE led 2-0 at halftime and posted an 11-4 shot advantage in the opening 45 minutes.  BU managed just one shot on goal in the opening stanza, while Evansville managed to put six on frame.
 
The Aces continued to create scoring chances in the second half and Smith was able to tally her fifth point of the match in the 58th minute.  The Evansville native collected a loose ball at the top of 18-yard box, before turning and firing a shot past Berner to make the final score, 3-0, in favor of UE.
 
Evansville kept Berner busy in net for much of the evening, as she finished the match with nine saves, making five of them in the second half.
 
Smith led the Aces offensively with six shots, while Springer, senior Lauren Tiernan and freshman Bronwyn Boswell each finished with five shots apiece.
 
Eight different Evansville players were able to put shots on goal and the Aces finished the contest with an 8-2 corner kick margin.
 
UE will be back at McCutchan Stadium Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., when it hosts in-state rival Valparaiso.