CHICAGO, Ill. - For the first time since 2015, the University of Evansville women's soccer team is headed to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship match following a 2-1 golden-goal win in two overtimes over Valparaiso on Friday afternoon in Chicago, Ill.
Seniors Alex Eyler and Emily Ormson represented the attack for Evansville on a sunny afternoon in the Windy City, each finding the back of the net. In goal, fifth-year senior Michaela Till was stout as always, allowing a goal and stopping five shots, while picking up the win and moving into sixth in MVC history in career saves.
Evansville wasted little time in taking the lead in its MVC semifinal clash with the Beacons. In the seventh minute, the Aces generated multiple opportunities, keyed by a shot from the top of the box from Eyler that hit the crossbar. On the rebound, fifth-year senior Jayme-Lee Hunter headed the ball back on frame, which was saved and rebounded back to Hunter. The New Zealand native then turned and pushed the ball back to Eyler, who slipped the ball to the opposite post and past the keeper to give Evansville the early 1-0 lead.
Less than seven minutes later, Valpo answered the Aces off a corner. As the ball sailed in, Nicole Norfolk clipped the ball towards goal that Addy Joiner volleyed in from close range to tie the match at one. The latter half hour of the first half featured less chances for the two sides as the Aces and Beacons went to the break with nearly identical stat lines with each team recording five shots and putting two on goal.
Evansville's defense was superb in the second half as it faced a handful of Beacon chances. In all, Valpo out-shot the Aces, 10-3, with three coming on-goal and Till stopping all three as the match went to overtime.
In the first overtime, Hunter nearly ended the match, putting a shot on-goal that Valpo keeper Nikki Coryell saved to prolong the match. Till answered Coryell with a save of her own in the 100th minute to force a second OT.
Three minutes into the second overtime, Evansville took advantage of a chance. Following a goal kick from Till, the ball bounced and got away from senior Emily Wolak. As the ball bounced towards Valpo's keeper, Ormson approached to make the clearance difficult. As Valpo cleared the ball, Ormson deflected it back towards goal and the Folsom, Cali. native brought down the ball and quickly volleyed it home from an acute angle to win the match for Evansville.
The Aces are the first six seed to advance to the MVC Tournament championship match since Indiana State did so in 2012.
Evansville will face top-seed and host Loyola Chicago on Sunday at 1 PM at Loyola Soccer Park in Chicago, Ill.
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