Box Score CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - After falling behind in the early stages of the first half, the University of Evansville women's soccer team fought back in the final 25 minutes to secure a 2-1 victory over SEMO on Thursday night in Cape Girardeau, Mo. in the Purple Aces' season opener.

"The girls played hard and together tonight, which is what is needed on the road," said Aces head women's soccer coach Krista McKendree. "Very proud of and happy for the team to gut out this result. It's always hard to win on the road and this will help in the belief that we can."

SEMO opened the scoring in the match in the 53rd minute when Esmie Gonzales scored to put the Redhawks ahead 1-0. Just over 15 minutes later, the Aces equalized the match as freshman Amanda DaSilva connected with sophomore Jayme-Lee Hunter who found goal in the 69th minute to knot the match up at a goal a piece.

With time ticking away in regulation, the Aces once again relied on a new connection. Freshman Mandy Hamm chipped a pass in to senior Montana Portenier who found the back of the net for the 12th time in her career, giving the Aces' a 2-1 advantage in the 86th minute with just four minutes left to play.

Following Portenier's go-ahead goal, SEMO responded aggressively as the Redhawks put numerous shots on-goal, but sophomore Michaela Till preserved the 2-1 Aces' win with a couple of stops between the posts.
 

---

Box Score (PDF)

---

"We didn't play well in the first half and to be able to go in tied at half kept us in the game," said McKendree. "We started the 2nd half off much better and had the run of play but credit to SEMO as they scored a good goal. We kept our nose to the grind and didn't panic and created some good opportunities."

The win is the Aces' first in a season-opener since 2014 and their first season-opening win on the road since a 1-0 triumph over SEMO on August 23, 2009.

Evansville heads back to Arad McCutchan Stadium for a Sunday showdown with Austin Peay at 5 p.m. for the "Welcome Back" game and "All Aboard Game #1". UE welcomes back students and invites area school children to attend Sunday's men's and women's soccer doubleheader who can enjoy giveaways, a free bounce house, and Pro Kick inflatable soccer game. For more information on Sunday's and the rest of the fall season's promotions, click HERE.

• INFO: For all of the latest information on University of Evansville athletics, visit GoPurpleAces.com or follow the program on Twitter via @UEAthletics.

                                   

• DONATE: For information on giving to UE Athletics or its individual athletics programs, visit the DONATE tab on the top of GoPurpleAces.com.

 

• TICKETS: To purchase tickets for University of Evansville athletics events, log on to GoPurpleAces.com and click on the TICKETS tab on top of the page.