VALPARAISO, Ind. - With more than a week away from competition, the University of Evansville women's soccer team heads north for a meeting with Valparaiso on Saturday night in Valparaiso, Ind.
 

Evansville at Valparaiso | Sat., Oct. 23 | 7 PM
Location	Valparaiso, Ind.
Follow Along	Live Stats | ESPN+
Evansville	Women's Soccer Home Page | Twitter | Game Notes

Last Match: Evansville 1, SIU 0

• Led by a dominant defensive effort, the University of Evansville women's soccer team captured a 1-0 shutout victory over Southern Illinois on Wednesday evening at Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville.
• In goal, fifth-year senior Michaela Till moved closer to a program record with an exceptional performance between the posts. Till recorded eight saves, including a diving save late in the match, moving her within eight of the program record for career saves. The 1-0 win also marked the Avon, Ind. native's 16th career shutout, putting her just one behind tying Misty Long for second all-time at UE. 
• On the attack, it was again a connection between seniors Alex Eyler and Emily Ormson that produced successful results. Ormson's goal in the 10th minute increased her team lead with her sixth goal of the season, moving Ormson into a tie for second in The Valley in the category. Delivering the cross into the box, Eyler continued her tear this season, recording her sixth of the season and her fourth in five matches.
• Evansville's attack got started quick right out of the gate, finding the scoreboard early with the aforementioned goal. In the 10th minute, Eyler dribbled into to the side of the 18-yard box, sending a cross into the six. As the ball sailed over the keepers head, Ormson put herself in the proper spot, volleying the ball into the upper netting and giving the Aces an early lead. After scoring the early goal, Evansville locked-in defensively and prevented the Salukis from generating goal-scoring opportunities, taking the one-goal lead to the break.
• The second half presented some challenges for the Aces as SIU began to hit on the counter. While Evansville outshot the Salukis, 10-6, in the first half, SIU played evenly with the Aces in the second 45 minutes as both teams recorded six shots in the period. The best chance of the night came in the 87th minute as SIU's Ashley Scesniak turned inside the box and whipped a shot on frame that Till dove and tipped over the crossbar to help preserve Evansville's lead in the 1-0 win.

Previewing the Matchup

• Saturday night's matchup marks the 18th meeting between Evansville and Valpo with the Aces owning a 10-3-4 advantage in the all-time series. 
• In the spring, the two sides met twice, once in the regular season and once in the postseason, playing to 0-0 draws both times with the Beacons advancing in the MVC Championship on penalties on April 11. 
• The Aces last win at Valpo came in the regular season finale in 2017 when Evansville captured a 2-1 win to close-out the season on Oct. 26. 
• Valpo enters the weekend matchup on an absolute tear, holding a 5-0-1 unblemished mark in MVC play. Unbeaten in its last eight matches, the last loss for the Beacons came in a 2-1 defeat to Western Illinois on Sept. 10. 
• The Aces currently sit tied with Illinois State for fourth in the MVC standings with eight points, and are just two points back of third-place Indiana State. 
• A crowded middle portion of the MVC standings means that even with a win, Evansville would still not be locked into the MVC Championship as four points separate third and seventh. 
• Scoring her sixth goal of the season on Oct. 13, senior Emily Ormson matched Montana Portenier for the most goals scored by an Ace since 2016. During the 2016 campaign, Bronwyn Boswell recorded eight goals for Evansville.

Till Approaches History

• Record watch continues for Michaela Till, who enters Saturday's match just eight saves away from tying the program record for most career saves, currenty owned by Chaviel Harrison, who compiled 358 saves from 2009-12. 

First Time Since 2014

• Already having put together and impressive season, the Aces sit one win away from achieving something they haven't done in seven years.
• A win would earn Evansville its seventh win of the season, the most it has amassed in one season since winning 11 games when it advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2014. 

 

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