Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
1-8-2, 0-2-0
Southern Illinois
8-2-0, 2-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray St. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Southern Ill. | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Miller's First Career Goal Not Enough as Racers Fall at Southern Illinois
9/26/2026 8:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Natalie Miller scored the first goal of her career in the third minute Saturday night, but Southern Illinois answered twice before halftime and held on for a 2-1 win over Murray State in Carbondale.
The Racers (1-8-2, 0-2-0 MVC) led for the first time in a road match this season and carried the better of the numbers in several categories against a Southern Illinois side (8-2-0, 2-0-0 MVC) that entered on a six-match winning streak. Murray State put five shots on goal to the Salukis' four and held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks, and the Racers' 12 attempts came against the stingiest defense in the Missouri Valley.
Southern Illinois responded with a penalty kick in the 22nd minute and a second goal in the 29th, then did not score again. Senior goalkeeper Griselda Revolorio turned away both shots she faced after halftime and kept the Salukis off the board for the final 61 minutes.
"It was good to strike first," head coach Ben Madsen said, "just had a little bit of a lull where we let them have the game again. We have to learn, especially if we score early, we have to keep the pedal to the metal."
Miller opened the scoring two minutes and 55 seconds in, the earliest Murray State goal of the season by more than half an hour and the first by a Racer in a road match all year.
Junior forward Breece Bass led the Racers with four shots, two of them on target, and drew saves in the 33rd and 84th minutes. Sophomore Gabby Ramdeen forced a save in the third minute moments before the goal, and Kate Donoghue tested the Southern Illinois goalkeeper again in the 71st.
The loss was Murray State's first at Southern Illinois since 2024. The Racers still lead the all-time series 4-3, a mark built on a 3-0 record at Cutchin Field, and are 1-3 in Carbondale.
Box Score Notes
- Natalie Miller's goal was the first of her collegiate career. She had played every minute of the 2026 season and led all Racers yet to score with 12 shots entering Saturday.
- The goal came at 2:55, the earliest Murray State has scored this season. The previous earliest was Abby Jo Dalessandro's in the 40th minute against Missouri on Aug. 16.
- It was the first goal by a Murray State player in a road match in 2026. The Racers' only other road goal came on an own goal at Tennessee Tech.
- Miller is the seventh different Racer to score this season, and no Murray State player has more than one goal.
- Murray State out-shot Southern Illinois on target 5-4 and out-cornered the Salukis 6-4 despite being outshot 15-12 overall.
- Revolorio faced 15 shots and four on target, making two saves. One of the two goals against came from the penalty spot.
- Southern Illinois had allowed five goals all season entering the match and had conceded once during its winning streak.
- Neither team was cautioned. Murray State has three yellow cards on the season, fewest in the Missouri Valley.
- Murray State fell to 0-4-1 in road matches and has been outscored 8-1 away from Cutchin Field.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Natalie Miller (1)
GOAL by MSU Miller, Natalie.
02:55
Nao Katamoto (2)
SIU Nao Katamoto PENALTY KICK GOAL.
21:27
Nao Katamoto (2)
Assisted By: Maya Dixon , Dana Nadda
GOAL by SIU Katamoto, Nao Assist by Dixon, Maya and Nadda, Dana.
28:43
