EVANSVILLE - A first half goal from Kristen Harvey and a dominant effort in goal from Michaela Till helped the University of Evansville women's soccer team earn its best start in program history with a 1-0 win over SEMO on Thursday evening at Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville.

Till finished the night with the 14th shutout of her career, making five saves, and keeping the Aces record unblemished on the year. Offensively, Harvey propelled Evansville, recording a team-high three shots, putting a pair on goal, and scoring her first career goal in the 25th minute.

SEMO were the aggresors early in the match, recording three shots inside the first seven minutes of the match. Evansville responded well, as the Aces put two shots on frame to follow with Harvey testing the Redhawk keeper in the 10th minute and senior Emily Ormson put another shot on goal just a minute later.

The 22nd minute saw the best opportunity to that point for the Aces as a corner was whipped in by Nicole Benati. Emilie Hill found the end of the cross, heading it towards goal, but just missing high.

Evansville capitalized on their early momentum just two minutes later when UE earned another corner. This time it was Alex Eyler who stood over it, sending in a ball that ricocheted off of Hill and landed in front of Harvey, who finished to the right of the keeper to put the Aces in front.

In all, the two teams combined for 11 shots in the opening half with a near even split (SEMO 6, Evansville 5), but the Aces put four on goal with the Redhawks failing to put any on frame.

The Redhawks again started a half aggressively in the first handful of minutes of the second half, recording four quick shots in the first eight minutes, including three on goal. In the 62nd minute, the Aces nearly doubled their lead as Ormson found the ball at her feet inside the box and released a quick shot on goal that SEMO was forced to quickly handle.

Despite creating a bevy of chances early, SEMO was held from creating much of an opportunity late in the match as Evansville's defense continued to demonstrate its strength, holding on to a one-goal lead for its fourth-straight win.

Evansville goes back on the road this weekend with a Sunday showdown at Northern Kentucky at Noon in Highland Heights, Ky.
 

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