Last season, the USI Women’s Soccer team saw remarkable growth both in talent and overall results. The team finished with a record of five wins, nine losses and five draws overall. However, in conference play, they finished with a formidable record of 4-2-3. They finished off the season well, going unbeaten in their last four matches and ultimately qualifying for the Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Soccer tournament. Aside from one match where they lost by a score of 6-1 at Northern Illinois, the team played the vast majority of games within striking distance. For this season, they have some expectations to not only maintain their level of play but also to reach the next level. 

The Eagles’ season begins with an away match against the Big Ten’s University of Nebraska and a home match against Cleveland State University. Some notable matchups include an away match against Robert Morris University and a home match hosting Southern Illinois for the International Student Game Celebration. These matches will help prepare them for conference play, where the Ohio Valley Conference predicts a sixth-place finish for the team. 

This season, the Eagles continue to feature a group of dynamic senior attackers that will lead from the front. Peyton Murphy, Payton Seymore and, All-Conference recipient, Emeron Grafton return and should be a formidable trio. However, an intriguing feature of the attack is Eva Boer, redshirt sophomore forward who scored three goals and an assist last season, and was a consistent starter down the stretch. I expect her to be one of the more crucial players in the first team, playing as the central forward up front. 

The Midfield is a crucial portion for USI, as the team largely uses a 4-5-1 formation, utilizing three central midfielders and two wide midfielders to support the lone forward up front. Peyton Murphy and Emerson Grafton will likely play as wide midfielders, pushing up the field while providing defensive support against opposing players when necessary. Maggie Duggan, graduate midfielder, returns for her final campaign as USI’s #5 defensive midfielder and will play a crucial role. In the other defensive midfield position, sophomore midfielder Emma Schut and Emma Thurston, redshirt junior, will likely be in that position by committee. Schut will likely see more time, as Thurston is returning from an injury that required her to miss the entirety of last season. With that being said, I wouldn’t rule her out of competing for that role early on. 

In the defense, Charli Grafton, junior defender and the team’s second all-conference recipient from last season, projects as an important piece in the back four. Alongside Grafton is Brittney Veugeler, sophomore defender, who made 10 starts in 17 total appearances at center back last season, opposite Grafton. On the flanks, Brynn Quick, senior defender, returns at right back and Kamryn Bea, junior defender, at left back. Both fullbacks played in nine games last season and should play important roles in the first team. 

An intriguing addition to the defense is an internal one, as Deklan Larring, senior defender, who played primarily as a forward, last season. This season, she has been categorized as a defender for the team’s official roster. I am interested in watching how she is utilized as a defender, perhaps in a role where she pushes up forward to defend and to provide support in the midfield area, or overlaps the wide midfielders to be a potential passing option. Additionally, she could be a potential scoring threat on set-pieces from corners to free-kicks. 

Anna Markland, redshirt junior goalkeeper, is the de facto starter in front of the net. Over the last two seasons, she has had a solid save percentage of 75.9%. Last season, she played in 18 matches, allowing 1.56 goals/match, while making 78 saves throughout the campaign. It goes without saying that the less action she sees, the better the team will do. A goalkeeper’s job is heavily reliant on how well the defense and midfielders keep the opposing attack in front. If they do that, then the team could continue to see positive results and perhaps make a run at the Ohio Valley Conference.