EVANSVILLE – Only eight University of Evansville women's soccer players have collected more career goals than senior Bronwyn Boswell, but her efforts wouldn't be enough on Thursday night as the Purple Aces dropped a 3-1 decision to visiting Saint Louis at Arad McCutchan Stadium.
Boswell, who has scored in all but two matches this season, collected her 19
th career goal and her fifth of the season with a 45
th-minute strike, leveling the contest just moments before the halftime whistle. The senior out of Frisco, Texas, moved into a tie for ninth in the school record books, joining former standouts Stephanie Hartong and Heidi Grey.
"Bronwyn is a quality player," UE acting head coach Grant Williams said. "We want her to be on the ball as much as possible. She prides herself on making something good happen when the game is on the line. She wants to have the ball at her feet, and that's exactly what you want out of an attacking player. The impact that she's had from the time she started here as a freshman has been a positive one, and she's grown year-by-year since."
Williams was coaching the team in the absence of UE head coach Krista McKendree, who gave birth second child earlier this week.
With the loss, UE fell to 1-5-1 on the season, and SLU improved to 5-1-0.
After some early chances came up empty, the Billikens opened the scoring in the 31
st minute as Alyssa Seitzer pounced on a through ball to the left flank, and slotted it home inside the far post. The duo would link up once more just two minutes after the break to regain the lead.
UE would have its chances in the second half, with the best coming through combination play between Boswell and Montana Portenier inside the 18-yard box in the 59
th minute. However, the attempt was scuffed wide, keeping the visitors ahead. Portenier would also have a powerful shot saved by SLU goalkeeper Mary Niehaus in the last 10 minutes as the Billikens continued to build chances on the other end.
SLU effectively put the game out of reach a few minutes later when Lindsay Sands scored the final goal in the 86
th minute to make it 3-1.
UE will return to action this weekend with a trip to Illinois on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
NOTES: UE is 4-6-1 overall against Saint Louis … This season marks the sixth consecutive that the two teams have played, with SLU now boasting of a 5-0-1 mark over that time … The last Aces win in the series was a 2-1 decision on Oct. 9, 2001 … UE is 24-18-9 against Missouri schools … UE is 1-3-0 against Illinois, and this weekend will mark the first meeting with the Illini since the 2004 campaign … The two sides squared off in all but one season from 2000-2004, with UE taking home a 2-0 decision on Sept. 30, 2001 … The Aces are 26-25-8 all-time against Illinois schools.
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