MOREHEAD – Graduate student defender
Anna Lohrer and sophomore forward
Hedda Ornberg each scored, and senior forward/midfielder
Erin Fite had a pair of assists as the Morehead State women's soccer team took its second step toward defending its Ohio Valley Conference Tournament crown with a 2-1 win over Southern Indiana on Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field in Evansville.
Lohrer scored the game winner, Ornberg moved into a tie for seventh in single-season goals and Fite stepped into eighth on the career assist list as the fifth-seeded Eagles avenged a 1-0 regular-season loss to the fourth-seeded Screaming Eagles in the tournament's second round.
MSU coach
Paul Cox did not mince his words in describing the game.
"I thought we were bullied in the first half and we let it get to us. We addressed it at halftime and discussed what it would take to get the better of them in the second half and we did that," he said. "Hedda came up big for the equalizer. I thought their approach to kick and hit her was really poor, but they (made her angry) and they shouldn't have done that. Then, two seniors (came) up big! Two assists from
Erin Fite and a game winner from
Anna Lohrer just was a perfect ending to the game. We've gotta rest up as it's a big one on Thursday."
It was the first time in nine games (and fifth time overall that) the Eagles scored multiple goals this season. The Blue and Gold needed it, because it fell behind 1-0 three minutes and 46 seconds into the contest.
"I think what put us on top was how hard we worked the last 15 minutes. We came together and worked for one another," Fite said. "I think towards the end everyone was super tired, but they pushed away and that's what got us the win."
The victory gave Morehead State (9-6-5/4-3-2) a 7-3-3 mark this season away from home, which equals the school record for road wins. It also extended both the team's unbeaten streak and road unbeaten streak to five games.
The result also matched the 2023 OVC tournament championship club in total wins at nine, extended its OVC Tournament win streak to four, improved its overall tournament record to 16-12-2 and its mark as the No. 5 seed to 5-4. It also raised its record in OVC Tournament second-round games to 6-4-2, was the second straight year and sixth time overall the club has won at least twice in the tournament, and secured its 12th berth to the semifinals.
Southern Indiana (5-9-5/4-2-3) got on the board quickly, scoring at the 3:46 mark after a defensive breakdown when Eva Boer stole an apparent back pass and beat freshman goalkeeper Lilly Balley to the ball, sliding it past her from 18 yards out for the goal. Peyton Murphy was credited with an assist on the play.
MSU dominated the action in the first half, with more shots (8-5, including 5-2 on goal) and corners (5-1). USI led in saves (5-1) and fouls (8-6). Both teams were flagged for being offside once. USI's goal scorer Eva Boer received the lone yellow card. The Eagles held possession of the ball for 57 percent of the half and had the ball in the Screaming Eagle defensive zone for 60 percent of that time.
Ornberg became the first Eagle to score in four consecutive games since Macy Cobb tallied one in each of the final four matches of the 2014 campaign, when she notched the game-tying goal with 35:32 left in the contest off a Fite assist. Ornberg's shot came from 23 yards out in the center of the field, going over the head of USI goalkeeper Anna Markland and under the crossbar. It was her ninth goal of the season and Fite's ninth career assist.
"
Erin Fite held the ball up on the top of the goal. She passed a perfect pass and I took one touch passed a defender and shot it to the top of the goal." Ornberg said.
USI's Emerson Grafton had an opportunity to score on a breakaway but was caught from behind by junior defender
Gracen Houck with 33:37 to play.
Southern Indiana appeared to take a lead after Boer scored with 12 minutes remaining, but the goal was waved off after an offside call.
Freshman forward
Carlie Thurmond had a pair of breakaway chances. With 1:18 left in the first half, she went down in the box, but a foul was whistled on Thurmond, nullifying that opportunity. With 8:42 remaining in the game, she got off a shot that was saved by Markland, but it resulted in a corner kick.
Lohrer tallied the game-winning goal after she headed in a Fite corner kick from the right side with 2:26 to play. Lohrer was six yards out on the left side and her header went across the box past a diving Markland before going in the net.
"(I) felt like we were knocking on the door all second half. We had a lot of chances on set pieces all game and hadn't found the back of the net. But we talked pregame that that was going to be one of our best chances to score and I (knew) I had to do my part," she said. "Fite sent in a great ball and I found myself open. I just had to place it in. (A) great team win. (We) fought hard for that one coming from behind."
Southern Indiana's Josie Pochocki got off one last quality shot from 12 yards out that went high and wide with 10 seconds left.
Morehead State led in four categories: shots (15 to 10), shots on goal (nine to five), corner kicks (11 to two) and fouls (11 to 10). The corner kick total was a season high by three, ironically originally set against Southern Indiana.
The Screaming Eagles held the edge in offside calls (six to one) and saves (seven to four). Both teams were assessed one yellow card.
MSU held possession of the ball for 57 percent of the afternoon and was on the attack in the USI zone for 64 percent of that time.
Ornberg and Lohrer had three shots apiece to pace the Blue and Gold. Fite and junior midfielder
Kamryn Baquero each added two. Boer and Emerson Grafton topped the hosts with three shots apiece.
Bailey, who made four saves, improved to 6-4-4 with the win. Markland was credited with seven.
Despite allowing a goal, the Eagles continue to chase the single-season record for fewest in a season of 21, which they set in 2022.
Southern Indiana saw its four-game unbeaten streak come to an end. It also fell to 4-4-2 at home this season and ended a two-game win streak. It was the third straight year the Screaming Eagles lost their opening round contest, the last two as a higher seed. They are 0-3 all-time in the OVC Tournament.
The Eagles' win tied the all-time series at 2-2.
MSU will make its second straight appearance in the tournament semifinals when it faces league champion Tennessee Tech on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET in Cookeville, Tenn. If the Eagles advance to the finals, it will be held on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. ET, also in Cookeville. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, with The 64-team tournament beginning later that week.
