Despite inclement weather conditions and a 30-minute rain delay, the women’s soccer team hosted the University of Tennessee-Martin Thursday night in grimy conditions.USI saw several scoring chances, including two corner kicks within the first three minutes. Payton Seymour, junior forward, and Pilar Torres, sophomore midfielder, connected early on, which led to Peyton Murphy, junior midfielder, being the first to contribute to the scoreboard 15 minutes into the game. 

The celebration was short-lived, as one of USI’s key players suffered an injury. Dylan Truscott, sophomore defender, sustained a leg injury attempting to defend USI’s goal box and would not return to the game. 

However, the Screaming Eagles did not let this keep them down. Roughly halfway through the first half, Emerson Grafton, junior midfielder, added another one to the board with the help of Torres, putting USI up 2-0. In the final minute of the first half, UT Martin experienced the weather’s wrath. After a slip out of UT Martin’s goalkeeper’s hands, USI’s Adriana Berruti, senior midfielder,  did not hesitate to fire, putting the Screaming Eagles up by three, heading into the second half of the game. 

UT Martin opened the second half in a more focused manner, leading to a stalemate early on. Eventually, two corner kicks within two minutes for USI changed that. Brynn Quick, junior defender, took them both. The first led to a shot but went over. The second shot led to another save by UT Martin’s goalkeeper. Still, Charli Grafton, junior defender, was in the right place at the right time for the rebound, stealthily firing the ball past Jordyn Riffle, sophomore goalie. This match was the first time the Grafton sisters scored in the same game.

Despite the fourth goal, the Skyhawks did not let the rain or being down by four get the best of them. With 17 minutes left in the game, UT Martin’s Caroline Moore, sophomore forward/midfielder, ruined USI’s chances of a shutout with her first goal. Moore was assisted by Alberte Amby, freshman forward, and Izzy Patterson, senior midfielder.

Ultimately, USI won 4-1 and outshot UT Martin by 20-9. Their record is now 2-6-3 overall and 1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference Play. 

The Screaming Eagles look like they are establishing momentum, as this match marks their fourth straight result where they either won or tied. The women’s soccer team looks to get another win on their field as they face off against Eastern Illinois University at 1 p.m. Sunday at Strassweg Field.