Eagles look to continue improving Thursday at Bowling Green

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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Coming off a defensive struggle that resulted in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Illinois in the Eagles' season opener, the Morehead State soccer team looks to build off last week's momentum in Thursday's matchup with Bowling Green.

Morehead State (0-1) will face Bowling Green (2-0) at 7 p.m. ET.

"I think the first 15 minutes are going to be very important," said head coach Warren Lipka. "We don't want to give up anything, so we can try to get our game going."

Morehead State heads into the second of three consecutive road games to kick off the 2016 season. Last Friday, the Eagles held their Big Ten opponent to one goal through the first 85 minutes of the match, but conceded a second score before the final whistle. Sophomore goalkeeper Michelle Washburn recorded 11 saves off 25 Illini shot attempts.

"I think everybody played well," Lipka said. "Michelle had a very good game, but I also think our back four played really well. A lot of those shots were from distance, and that means that we're doing well in front of her."

When the Eagles step onto Cochrane Field in Bowling Green, Ohio, they will be facing a squad who won each of their opening matches by a 1-0 margin.

"I think we're playing a team that got off to a good start, they've got good confidence now," said Lipka. "You've got to go into their house and be disruptive."

If Morehead State settles into their road blue uniforms as comfortably as they did in Champaign, Ill., the Eagles will spend the remainder of 90 minutes fighting a downhill battle.

"You need to go in there and try to take away some of that enthusiasm early in the game and withstand a little bit of pressure," said Lipka. "Then, be able to build off of that."

With a starting lineup featuring one senior, one redshirt junior, and nine underclassmen, every match is a learning experience for a rapidly improving Eagles group.

"I thought they had a good night out competing and battling with a predominately senior-laden team in Illinois," Lipka said. "Going into this game on Thursday night, we continue to expect improvement."