Skip to Main Content
University of Southern Indiana's student publication | USI | student newspaper

The Shield

University of Southern Indiana's student publication | USI | student newspaper

The Shield

University of Southern Indiana's student publication | USI | student newspaper

The Shield

The Screaming Eagle statue stands in front of the Screaming Eagles Complex, a fixture at the University of Southern Indiana since 2021. (Photo by Will Kessinger)

USI Athletics grows and evolves in the 2024-2025 season

Will Kessinger, Sports Editor May 7, 2025

This season has been one of significance, both in terms of accolades and milestones for the University of Southern Indiana Athletics Program. From the launch of the Archie's Army reward app, which has...

Vanessa Shafford, senior guard, passes the ball to a teammate as she is closely guarded by a Brescia University guard Nov. 4 at Liberty Arena. (Photo by Will Kessinger)

The Shield re-visits coverage of USI athletic teams

Will Kessinger, Sports Editor May 7, 2025

USI Women's Basketball  The USI Women's Basketball team entered this season looking to defend their Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles. The big three of Vanessa Shafford,...

Khi Holiday, senior outfielder, is chased by his teammates after he hit a walk-off single to win the game against Bellarmine in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday at USI Baseball Field. (Photo by Will Kessinger)

USI Baseball wins cinematic walk-off game against Bellarmine, 10-9

Will Kessinger, Staff Editor April 24, 2025

The USI Baseball team hosted the Bellarmine University Knights, Wednesday at the USI Baseball Field.  The Eagles entered the game with a record of 18-22, while the Knights sat at 10-30. However,...

Senior tennis players Trent Ross and Quinten Gillespie are honored during Senior Day Saturday at USI Tennis Courts. (Photo courtesy of Jonah Hardsey)

Men’s Tennis drops senior day matchup, looks to prepare for Horizon League Championship

Mailee Toennies, Sports Writer April 15, 2025

As their regular season comes to an end, USI’s Men’s Tennis team hosted senior day on Saturday against Tennessee State University. Senior players Quinten Gillespie and Trent Ross were recognized for...

A packed Neyland Stadium, home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers. (Photo courtesy of Steve DiMatteo)

Opinion: The good, the bad, the ugly of the Nico Iamaleava holdout with the University of Tennessee

Will Kessinger, Sports Editor April 14, 2025

College Athletics is in a pivotal spot in this current moment in regards to NIL and the Transfer Portal, and many speculate on actions the NCAA should take. On Friday, Nico Iamaleava, freshman quarterback...

The NCAA’s transfer portal was initially launched in October of 2018, which allowed college athletes to freely move between universities. (Photo courtesy of Sasun Bughdaryan)

Opinion: The Transfer Portal is a slippery slope towards collective bargaining

Will Kessinger, Sports Editor April 8, 2025

Despite my love of sports, they are not perfect, and this proposition can certainly be applied to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA for short. Throughout its past, this organization...

Khi Holiday, senior outfielder, squares up to begin a swing motion during the game against Northern Kentucky Tuesday at USI Baseball Field. (Photo by Will Kessinger)

USI Baseball torches Northern Kentucky; 10-0

Will Kessinger, Sports Editor April 2, 2025

The USI baseball team hosted the Northern Kentucky Norse on Tuesday night at USI Baseball Field. The team entered the game following back to back wins against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock....

The women’s basketball team huddles during the game against Eastern Illinois University Feb. 20 in Liberty Arena.

Opinion: Inequality of women in the sports industry

Peyton Peters, Contributor April 2, 2025

Have you ever gone to a USI basketball game and watched as Liberty Arena slowly filled up only after the women’s game was finished? Despite the women’s basketball team having a record of 22-12 and...

Chloe Gannon, sophomore forward/center, fires a hook shot during the first quarter of play in the Super 16 matchup against the University of Buffalo Thursday at Liberty Arena.

Women’s Basketball fights to the end against Buffalo; 64-76

Mailee Toennies, Sports Writer March 31, 2025

Advancing to the Super Sixteen in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, the University of Southern Indiana women’s basketball team hosted the University of Buffalo. The Bulls came into this...

Sue Kunkle, softball head coach, instructs Whitley Hunter, senior pitcher/infielder, during an Ohio Valley Conference matchup against Western Illinois University Mar. 8 at USI Softball Field. (Photo by Will Kessinger)

Sue Kunkle: Leading student athletes to triumph

Will Kessinger, Sports Editor March 31, 2025

The Southern Indiana Athletics program has seen many great coaches in its history. If there were a Mount Rushmore of USI’s greatest head coaches, the list would certainly include Women’s Basketball...

The USI women’s basketball team celebrates a hard-earned second round WNIT victory against Campbell University Sunday at Liberty Arena.

Women’s Basketball grinds out second round WNIT victory against Campbell; 60-51

Will Kessinger, Sports Editor March 26, 2025

The USI Women’s Basketball team hosted Campbell University Camels in a second round matchup in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Sunday night. There was much anticipation after a strong...

March Madness, the highest level of collegiate men’s basketball competition, begins Thursday Mar. 20 at 12:15 pm central time.

2025 March Madness Preview: Sports Guy’s Redemption

Will Kessinger, Sports Editor March 19, 2025

March Madness is back and I’m here to redeem myself after last year’s utter disaster of a bracket that I filled out. That monstrosity can be found here.  After some consideration, I’ve come to...

Load More Stories