EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Women's Soccer clinches a post season berth with dominate win over UIC
The Purple Aces traveled to Chicago, IL for their final regular season game this Thursday to take on UIC in which Evansville captured the victory 3-1. The win moved the Aces to ten conference points which leaped frogged both Valparaiso and Belmont to secure their first playoff berth since 2023.
UIC started the game strong with four shots within the first six minutes, but none made it past Senior Goalkeeper Bri Chirpich, who totaled two saves in that span. Evansville found its first offensive spark in the 8' when Izzie Ryan fired an accurate pass directly to Brooklyn Robinson, who tapped it in the goal to take the lead 1-0. The goal marked a career high five goals on the season for Brooklyn Robinson and the first assist of Izzie Ryan's career.
In the 23' UIC responded with a goal from Tenley McMenamy to tie the game 1-1. Evansville immediately cranked up the heat on offense, earning a penalty kick after a foul inside the box. Evansville Junior Brielle LaBerge was able to convert and give Evansville the 2-1 lead in the 25'. LaBerge's goal marked her sixth of the season. Evansville entered the half with a 2-1 lead, but with no plans to slow down.
Coming out of the half, Aces Goalkeeper Bri Chirpich took control of the game, totaling three saves in the first 15 minutes of the second half. In all, Chirpich finished the game with 8 saves to help maintain the Aces lead. In the 63' Evansville found the back of the net to extend the lead to 3-1. Brielle LaBerge fired a pass off a corner kick that was tipped into the air, but Senior Ella Hamner was able to corral the ball and fire it into the net for the Aces' third goal of the day. The goal was Hamner's second of the season.
The Aces were able to secure the 3-1 win against UIC to give them a MVC playoff berth. Now the Aces will take on #3 seed Illinois State in the first round of the MVC tournament. The Aces had a 2-2 tie in their last matchup against the Redbirds this season.
The Aces start their playoff run against Illinois State on November 8th at 1 PM at Illinois State. The game will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
