Women’s soccer downs Evansville 1-0

Neither rain nor cold stopped the Sycamore women's soccer team from coming away with a 1-0 victory in the final home game of the season against the University of Evansville Wednesday night at the Memorial Stadium.

"It was great to get the monkey off our backs with this conference win, and it made being out in that miserable weather worth it," Morgan Wendlandt, senior forward said.

The victory improves the Sycamore's overall record to 4-12-0 for the season and 1-4-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).  In addition, the win snapped an eight game losing streak just a game away before they begin the conference tournament.  The Evansville Purple Aces dropped to 1-11-4 overall and 0-4-0 in the MVC.

The Sycamores came out attacking in the first half and kept the ball for the most part in Evansville's half.  Wendlandt  took the first shot on goal for the Sycamores in the eighth minute of play as her free kick from midfield was saved by the keeper.  Two minutes later, senior midfielder and forward Seyma Erenli moved down the right wing and sent a shot on goal but was again stopped.  

The Sycamores broke through in the 34th minute with senior forward Jessica Rosenberg's shot from the right side of the box finding the back of the net, giving the Sycamores their first goal.  This was the second goal by Rosenberg in two consecutive matches.

At the end of the first half, the Sycamores led in shots 6-2, 5-0 in shots on goal.

In the 49th minute of play, Rosenberg was alone on goal following a turnover by Evansville, but her shot went wide right.  Rosenberg found the back of the net again in the 54th minute but was called for offside.

Senior goalkeeper Emily Lahay made her first save of the night as an Evansville player attempted a shot from the top of the penalty box.

At the end of regulation, the score remained unchanged, and ISU came away with the victory.

"We are so happy to get a result last night," Said Erika True, ISU head women's soccer coach.  "The team needed that...heck, we all needed that. I feel that it is going to help us refocus for Creighton and take on one of the ‘top dogs' of the conference."

The victory keeps the conference tournament in the hunt for the Sycamores.  True said it boils down to the upcoming game against Creighton and how other teams in the conference perform.

"The conference tournament is just around the corner and I think that this win has been a much needed push forward into the tournament.," senior forward Jessica Rosenberg said.

"We almost forgot what it felt like to win. After experiencing one last night, we know what it takes to get one and how hard we need to work as a team to be successful."

The Sycamores return to action this weekend when the team travels to Omaha, Neb. to take on Creighton University.