EVANSVILLE, Ind. - In the final act of the regular season, the University of Evansville women's soccer team will have plenty to play for on Thursday afternoon in a match against Missouri State at 4 PM at Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville.
 

Evansville vs. Missouri State | Thurs., Oct. 28 | 4 PM
Location	Evansville, Ind.
Follow Along	Live Stats | ESPN+
Evansville	Women's Soccer Home Page | Twitter | Game Notes

Previewing the Matchup

• The final matchup of the regular season is the 32nd meeting in series history with the Aces owning a 14-10-7 advantage in the all-time series. 
• The two sides did not meet last spring making the last meeting all the way back on Nov. 3, 2019 in the opening round of the MVC Championship with the Bears capturing a 1-0 win over Evansville in Springfield. 
• Missouri State has earned a result in five-straight meetings in the series with Evansville last capturing a win in the 2014 regular-season finale, 1-0, on Oct. 29, 2014. 
• The Bears enter the regular season finale with a 5-7-4 overall record and a 2-4-1 mark in MVC play. In their last contest, the Bears defeated Drake, 3-2, in double overtime on Saturday. 
• The final day of the regular season features plenty of intrigue with nearly every team entering Thursday with something to play for. Only one team, Southern Illinois, has been mathematically eliminated from postseason competition and none of the other eight teams are locked into their spot in the Championship. Evansville could finish as high as fourth or miss the tournament all together depending on results. Missouri State needs a win to qualify for the Championship. 
• The regular season title is also on the line on Thursday with Loyola and Valparaiso both entering the final day with 16 total points and facing one another.

Last Match: Valparaiso 2, Evansville 1

• Generating attacking opportunities late, the University of Evansville women's soccer team battled back from a deficit, but came up short in a 2-1 loss to Valparaiso on Saturday night in Valparaiso, Ind.
• For the second time this season and the second time in her career, fifth-year senior Emily Olson scored a goal, helping Evansville push closer late in the second half. In goal, fellow fifth-year senior Michaela Till moved within four saves of tying the career program record, stopping four shots on the night.
• The Aces generated the first shot on-goal of the night as senior Alex Eyler let go off a shot in the ninth minute that forced a save from Beacon keeper Nikki Coryell. Despite Evansville's early chance, it was Valpo who found the back of the net first, doing so in the 17th minute as Valpo's Kelsie James clipped home a ball to give the Beacons the early advantage. Nine minutes later, the Beacons added another goal with a familiar name doing the scoring. James scored her second goal of the half in the 26th minute, off an assist from Peyton Flynn, earning Valpo a 2-0 lead, an advantage it would hold at the break.
• A more aggressive Evansville attack showed itself in the second half as the Aces recorded seven shots in the second period compared to four in the first 45 minutes. Less than five minutes into  the second half, fifth-year senior Jayme-Lee Hunter challenged the Beacons with a shot on frame that was saved by Coryell. In the 72nd minute, Evansville's increased attack paid off as the Aces halved their deficit. Off a free kick, junior Emilie Hill sent a soaring ball into the ball that was popped up into the air multiple times before senior Emily Wolak headed the ball to Olson who directed the ball to the left of Coryell, putting Evansville on the board. Over the final 15 minutes, the Aces recorded two more shots, but could not find their second goal as Valparaiso held on for the 2-1 win.

Olson Scores Again

• In her fifth year with the Aces, defender Emily Olson has gotten involved on the attacking end twice this season.
• Against Valpo on Saturday night, Olson headed home her second goal of the season after a pass from Emily Wolak in the 72nd minute to push the Aces back within a goal.
• Prior to this season, Olson played 1,619 minutes without a goal, but in 11 appearances this season has scored twice and recorded six shots.

Senior Day

•  Evansville will honor eight seniors prior to Thursday's match against Missouri State.
• These eight seniors combined to record 29,448 minutes on the pitch, score 29 goals, deliver 16 assists, and recorded 373 saves.

 

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