MOREHEAD, Ky. – Freshman defender
Faith Peper's goal at the 69-minute mark of Sunday's Morehead State-Austin Peay women's soccer game proved to be the difference as the Eagles snapped a four-game winless streak at the MSU Soccer Field in Morehead with a 1-0 victory over the Governors.
The shutout was the first for the Blue and Gold since the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament opener against UT Martin. Sophomore goalkeeper
Claire Cress continued her outstanding start to the season by picking up her fourth career clean sheet.
The win was the first at home for Morehead State (1-1) since defeating Eastern Illinois 5-1 on Sept. 22 of last year. MSU improved to 3-4-2 on its own field since the beginning of 2024. The victory also prevented the Eagles from their first 0-2 start since the spring 2021 campaign. Conversely, Austin Peay (0-2) is now winless in its last four outings.
The Governors remain without a goal this season. They fell to No. 17 Vanderbilt 7-0 in their opener. The team is 0-2 on the road this year and 3-4-3 away from home since the start of 2024.
Peper's score was the first official one of her career, although she recorded the initial goal this season in the exhibition opener against Brescia.
Morehead State dominated the action early but did not have many scoring chances in the first half. Improving possession time was a goal of coach
Paul Cox, who adjusted his strategy from Thursday's Marshall contest in attempt to accomplish that objective on Sunday.
Watch Head Coach Paul Cox's comments on the match below.
The Eagles were finally able to connect after senior midfielder
Kennedy Baquero's corner kick from the right side bounced off Austin Peay goalkeeper Lauryn Berry's hands, before eventually landing in front of Peper, who kicked the ball between a pair of APSU defenders and into the back of the net from just yards from the line on the right side.
Although the temperatures ranged into the high 80s, the heat did not appear to be an obvious adversary to the players. However, the game was stopped for two water breaks in each half, which is far beyond the norm.
MSU was again without three players for the contest, something that has been the case for every game this fall including exhibition play.
Both teams finished with seven total shots. However, the Eagles had a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Morehead State was whistled for 15 fouls, which was one off last year's high. Austin Peay committed 10 fouls. In addition, both teams were flagged for being offside once and one card was issued to each club.
Sophomore midfielder
Charlotte Lee and graduate student midfielder
Karissa Vela both recorded two shots to lead the Eagles. APSU's Ellie Dreas and Taylor Grover also notched a pair of attempts.
Cress improved to 1-1 on the year, while Berry fell to 0-2. Cress finished with three saves. Berry was credited with one.
Morehead State maintained possession for 60 percent of the game. It was on the attack in the Austin Peay defensive zone for 55 percent of its time with the ball. APSU was on offense in the MSU side of the field for 53 percent of its possession time.
MSU extended its commanding series lead to 15-7-2 and 10-2-1 at home. It is the Eagles' fourth consecutive victory over the Govs in Morehead.
Sunday ended the Blue and Gold's season-high two-game home stand. The Eagles will take a week off before traveling to play Chattanooga next Sunday at 1 p.m. The team returns home to host Eastern Kentucky for the traveling "Bluegrass Cup" on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
