Box Score EVANSVILLE, Ind. - In its MVC opener, the University of Evansville women's soccer team earned a 1-0 overtime victory over Indiana State on a rain-filled Saturday afternoon at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

"Overall, the first half we didn't play very well. I thought we came out isecond half and played with more energy and played with more commitment to score goals and win the game," said Aces' women's soccer head coach Krista McKendree. "I think in overtime we did very well. I think we had maybe one or two plays that didn't show that same energy. Obviously being able to get on the end of a chance there and being able to put the game away obviously helps. To be be able to start out at home obviously helps, but to get the first one to be a win. Thankful for the support of our student-athletes here helped. Helped keep our girls excited and energized and ready to go over the hump."

After rain had soaked the field throughout the morning, the first half featured a relatively dry 45 minutes as both teams combined for seven shots in the opening period. Senior Montanan Portenier put the first shot on-goal for the Aces in the fourth minute that was saved by the Sycamores' Hannah Sullivan. Late in the first half, Evansville put two more shots on-goal as senior Molly Lear and junior Samantha Brown each sent a shot towards goal that Sullivan was able to stop as both teams went to the halftime break in a scoreless tie.
 

---

Box Score (PDF)

---

Evansville was aggressive offensively in the second half generating opportunities early and often. In the 65th minute, Lear put her second shot on-frame as Sullivan again made the save to keep the Aces off the board. The 75th minute featured two Aces' shots that were blocked as Evansville continued to battle for chances and to find the go-ahead goal. Within the final minute of regulation, senior Sara Osinski provided one of Evansville's best looks of the match up to that point. Osinski received the ball at her feet just inside the 18 and looped a shot towards the goal that connected with the crossbar and ricocheted out as the Aces and Sycamores went into overtime tied 0-0.

The overtime period was controlled by Evansville as the Aces recorded four shots in the first three minutes of overtime while not allowing Indiana State to record a shot of their own. Just shy of three minutes into overtime, Portenier crossed a ball into the box that junior Maggie Leazer brought down and flipped into the back of the net to secure the 1-0 overtime victory for the Aces,

Leazer led the way with the lone goal in the match, while Lear recorded a match-high five shots, putting two on-goal. Between the posts, sophomore Michaela Till preserved her second clean sheet of the season and third of her career, helping propel the Aces to victory with five saves.

"We're so happy to go 1-0, especially on our home field," said Aces' junior midfielder Maggie Leazer. "We wanted to set a tone for the rest of the conference season. So I thought we did a good job."

The Aces conclude their three-match homestand on Saturday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. when Evansville hosts Valparaiso at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

• 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.