MOREHEAD – It has been an up-and-down year for the Morehead State soccer team and Sunday's contest mirrored that pattern as the Eagles dropped a home match with Southern Indiana 1-0 at the MSU Soccer Field.
Even in front of MSU soccer alumni, it was not enough to push the Blue and Gold over the top.
The result makes the Eagles' path to a top-four finish in the Ohio Valley Conference precarious. Now with a 6-6-3 overall record and a 3-3-0 league mark, Morehead State sits in fourth with nine points, with Southern Indiana (3-8-4/2-2-2) and Eastern Illinois (4-6-5/2-2-2) just a point behind.
Listen to MSU coach Paul Cox discuss the game.
It was the team's third defeat in its last four outings, after going 2-0-2 over the previous four games. It also was the squad's second straight loss at home and dropped the club to 2-3-1 there this season.
With the win, Southern Indiana snapped a two-game skid and ended a nine-game road winless streak that stretched into last October. It is 1-5-2 away from home this year. It also marked the first time in the series (of just three games) that the visitor won the matchup.
Morehead State held a 6-2 edge in shots, with only three on frame, after a lackluster first half.
USI had a goal wiped off due to an offside call at the 38:26 mark, but the Screaming Eagles broke through in the 77th minute when Emerson Grafton found Evan Boer, who slipped a pass to Pilar Torres, who eventually scored at 76:23.
The Screaming Eagles also had a breakaway chance later in the game, but the attempt was thwarted by a save from freshman goalkeeper
Lilly Bailey, who finished with five stops.
Southern Indiana kicked its offense up a notch and unleashed four of its six second-half shots on goal.
Overall, the Eagles held a slim 10-8 lead in shots, and also posted more corner kicks at 8-6. USI was whistled for 19 fouls to just eight for the Blue and Gold. The visitors finished with two offside calls. MSU was flagged just once. Southern Indiana also had both of the afternoon's yellow cards.
Junior defender
Gracen Houck and junior midfielder
Kennedy Baquero each had two shots to pace the hosts. Grafton took four to lead all players.
Bailey finished with five saves, while Anna Markland had two for the Screaming Eagles.
Morehead State had a significant edge in possession (63 percent to 37 percent). The Eagles were also on the attack 62 percent of the time versus just 52 percent for USI.
MSU goes on the road for its next two games, Thursday at Lindenwood and Sunday at Southeast Missouri. The LU contest will kick off at 8 p.m. ET, with the SEMO match starting at 2 p.m. ET. The Eagles will conclude their regular season on Sunday, Oct. 27, when they host SIUE for Senior Day.
