EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women's soccer team will travel to preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite Valparaiso on Sunday to wrap up a weekend two-match road trip. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. and Sunday's match can be seen live on ESPN3.
Evansville will look to reverse its Valley fortunes so far, as the Purple Aces stand at 0-4-2 in the league and 1-7-4 overall. The Purple Aces suffered another heartbreaking loss on Thursday night, as UIC scored in the 81st minute to grab a 1-0 victory over UE. So far this year in league play, all four match-winning goals conceded by UE have been scored in the match's final 12 minutes of play.
Fifth-year forward Emily Ormson continues to lead not only the UE attack, but also the Valley, with four goals on the season. Ormson scored arguably her biggest goal as a Purple Ace last November against Valparaiso, as she scored a game-winner in the 104th minute of the MVC Tournament semifinal matchup against the Beacons. In her career, Ormson has 17 goals as a Purple Ace, and needs just two more to crack into Evansville's career top 10.
Valparaiso will enter Sunday's match at 4-6-3 overall and 3-1-1 in the Valley, after playing to a scoreless tie against last-place Illinois State. The Beacons are anchored by reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Year Nikki Coryell, who currently leads the Valley with six shutouts this season. Offensively, sophomore forward Addy Joiner leads the Valpo attack with three goals, and Joiner scored the Beacons' lone goal in UE's 2-1 double-overtime victory in the MVC Tournament semifinals last November.
UE leads the all-time series over Valparaiso, 11-4-4. Evansville and Valparaiso are the oldest teams in the Valley, as both programs began in 1993. In fact, UE beat Valpo, 3-0, in the series' first meeting on October 3, 1993.
