The USI’s women’s soccer team had its four-game winning streak broken by Lewis University on Sunday.
The Eagles lost the game 1-0, making its record 5-3-0 overall and 4-2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).
“We came into the game with confidence, but we knew it was going to be a hard game,” senior middle Paige Nuelle said. “We just started off the match a little slow.”
The first half of the match was scoreless. Lewis didn’t score the game-winning goal until an assist from Fran Abate set up Jessica Saffell to make the goal.
“Coach really pumped us up at half time and she gave us a pep talk saying, ‘If they’re going to be this physical then we can be just as physical,’” Nuelle said.
Nuelle and Ellsperman took three shots during the match, half of USI’s six total shots. Lewis had a total of 15 shots.
“Not many of those shots were dangerous,” women’s head soccer coach Krissy Engelbrecht said. “We… give people shots for 40 yards out – it’s not a big deal to us.”
USI’s closest chance to tie the game was at the 8:30 mark when the Eagles had its first corner kick of the match. Julia Kohnen took the corner kick to set up sophomore forward Makenzie Brinker, but her header shot went wide.
“We were in the box a lot and we had a opportunities – we just didn’t take advantage of them,” Engelbrecht said.
The Eagles finished its home stand with a 3-1 record. The team will go on the road against the University of Indianapolis, which has a 2-6 overall record, and Saint Joseph’s College, with a 1-7 record overall.
“In our conference, every game is tough,” Engelbrecht said. “We just refocus and come back hard next weekend.”
