Racers Fall to Western Kentucky in Exhibition Contest

Wednesday, August 14

Bowling Green, Ky.

6 p.m.

Murray State

0-0-0, 0-0-0

Western Kentucky

0-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Murray St.	0	0	0
Western Ky.	1	1	2

Photo by: Dan Hasko

8/15/2019 1:08:00 AM | Women's Soccer

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Murray State women's soccer traveled to Bowling Green, Kentucky to open the 2019 campaign with an exhibition match against the Lady Toppers of Western Kentucky University on Wednesday evening. While the Racers had their share of opportunities to get on the scoresheet, they came up short in the preseason match – falling to Western Kentucky by a score of 2-0.

WKU got on the board quickly with an early goal from preseason All-Conference USA selection Ambere Barnett to put the Lady Toppers ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute of the match.

After the early strike, both teams settled in and shared almost even possession and scoring opportunities through the end of the first half. The score at the break would remain 1-0 in favor of Western Kentucky, with the Racers holding a slight edge in possession with 55% of the ball through 45 minutes of action. Each side would also turn in three shots on frame during the first half of play.

While both sides traded opportunities to change the score line early in the second half, Western Kentucky would have a promising chance when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 67^th minute. They were unable to capitalize, however, thanks to a brilliant save from Murray State goalkeeper Jamie Skarupsky that kept the ball out of the lower corner and, more importantly, kept the Racers just a goal away from equalizing the match.

The score would remain the same until the Lady Toppers netted their second goal of the evening, this time courtesy of Ashley Leonard who found the goal in the 70^th minute.

Abby Jones and Lauren Payne would each get a shot off in the minutes to come as the Racers attempted to provide an answer, but MSU would be unable to convert as they attempted to cut into the deficit.

While the Racers won the possession battle (controlling it 58% of the time) and both teams had an even 16 shots on the evening, the match would end with a final score of 2-0 as the Racers fell to the Lady Toppers in a preseason exhibition match at the WKU Soccer Complex in Bowling Green.

Senior Miyah Watford led the Racers with three shots on frame, while Jamie Skarupsky made five saves between the posts in her first action in a Murray State uniform.

The Racers will return to the field on August 22, when they host Big East opponent Xavier in their regular season opener at Cutchin Field in Murray, Kentucky.