MSU Battle Ends As 1-0 Loss to SIU-E

Sunday, September 7

Cutchin Field

2:30 p.m.

Murray State

SIU-Edwardsville

9/7/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

The Murray State Women's Soccer team played nearly 186 minutes in two weekend matches and gave up only one goal. However, it was that one goal with 5:42 left in overtime Sunday that cost them a 1-0 match with future Ohio Valley Conference member SIU Edwardsville in the MSU-Hampton Inn Classic at Cutchin Field.

The Racers fell to 3-3, while the Cougars improved to 2-3.

With the game tied 0-0 in the 95^th minute of the day, Edwardsville's Kiara Akpore deflected in a high bouncing pass, which came from mid-field, for the only goal of the day with 5:42 left in overtime.

“Before our match we watched UT Martin and UNC-Asheville play an overtime game, so it was good experience for us to go through one, our first of the year,” MSU Head Coach Beth Acreman said. “The result wasn't what we wanted, but we're a young team and we'll learn from it.”

The Racers finished second in the weekend event.

UT Martin was the winner after garnering eight points, one point better than the Racers.

The point system used awarded three points for a win, one point for a tie, and one point for a shut out and every goal scored up to three per game.

The Racers were on the doorstep of winning their fourth straight match, but couldn't get a goal to drop, although they were mighty close more than a few times.

In the 35^th minute, Renata Figueira's direct kick from 25 yards left of the goal was dead on, but SIU's Kaci Backs saved it.

In the 73^rd minute, Krista Muilkens hit the cross bar off a corner kick by Sophie Hargreaves. The rebound settled in front of Rebekah Clay point-blank from 10 yards out, but her shot was deflected by a Cougar defender.

“The effort is there, but we didn't attack as well today as we did Friday against Asheville,” Acreman said. “We have to get better at the details.”

Acreman also showed respect to SIU-E, who will join the OVC in 2011.

“SIU Edwardsville is a team that put the ball down today and played,” Acreman said. “That was impressive.”

Each team had 14 shots on goal with SIU-E leading 6-1 in shots on goal.

MSU's Tara Isbell was outstanding in two matches for MSU in goal, only giving the one goal in 185:42. She made 10 saves in the two games.

The Racers hit the road Friday for a trip to Nashville and the Belmont Showcase. MSU will face Western Kentucky Friday at 1 p.m., and then face Louisiana-Monroe Sunday at noon. All games will be played at Belmont University's Whitten Soccer Complex.

MSU-Hampton Inn All Tournament Team

UT-Martin, Jamie Furstenberg

UT-Martin, Danielle Rogers

UT-Martin, Van Sise

Murray State, Veronika Pribyslavska

Murray State, Rebekah Clay

Murray State, Rachel Wright

SIU Edwardsville, Devon Thomas

SIU Edwardsville, Brittany Bodziak

SIU Edwardsville, Jen Kratzer

UNC- Asheville, Mary Kate Tucker

UNC- Asheville, Veronica Lazar