CHICAGO, Ill. - With a golden-goal victory over Valparaiso in the 104th minute, the University of Evansville women's soccer team earns the chance to go for the 2021 MVC Tournament crown against top-seeded host Loyola Chicago on Sunday at 1 PM at Loyola Soccer Park in Chicago, Ill.
Last Match: Evansville 2, Valparaiso 1 (2OT)
- 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 in 2008 and only the second all-time.
Previewing the Matchup
- Sunday's matchup in the MVC Tournament championship game represents the 14th all-time meeting between the Aces and Ramblers with Loyola Chicago owning an 8-2- 3 advantage in the all-time series.
- Evansville and Loyola have met twice previously in the MVC Tournament in back-to-back years in 2015 and 2016. Both matches went to penalty kicks with the Aces advancing from both. The 2015 matchup was the championship game, which UE advanced 5-3 on PKs and captured its first MVC Tournament Championship since 2008.
- In the previous meeting this season between the two sides, Evansville scored the opening goal off the foot of Emily Ormson in the 32nd minute before the Ramblers scored three goals in the second half to secure a 3-1 win.
- Evansville won its last meeting with the Ramblers at Loyola Soccer Park, earning a 1-0 win over Loyola on April 3, 2021.
No Stranger to Championship Matches
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Of 26 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship matches, the Aces have played in exactly half, making their 13th appearance on Sunday, owning a 5-5-2, capturing the tournament title in six of their previous 12 appearances.
At Loyola Soccer Park
- In each of its last three matches played at Loyola Soccer Park, the margin of victory has been just one goal.
- On Nov. 2, 2018, Evansville dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker in overtime of the MVC Tournament semifinals.
- The last two have been Aces wins, a 1-0 regular-season win over Loyola on April 3, 2021 and Friday's 2-1 double-overtime victory over Valparaiso in the MVC Tournament semis.
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