APSU Lady Govs Soccer falls at Evansville Purple Aces 3-0

Austin Peay Sports Information Office

Evansville, IN – After a solid first-half performance in the season-opener at Evansville, Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team gave up three second-half goals to fall 3-0 to the Purple Aces in non-conference action.

For just the second time since 2010, Austin Peay takes the loss in the season opener, last losing 2-1 to Arkansas in 2012 – a season that ended with Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship match. The loss also drops the Lady Govs to 0-5-0 all-time against the Purple Aces.

A back-and-forth first half saw sophomore Nikki Filippone make a pair of nice saves in net, denying Abby Springer in the 30th minute and Montana Portenier in the 38th. She was helped a little by the iron later in the half, when a Carlie Scales shot hit the post.

Senior Claire Pultz accounted for all the Lady Govs offensive chances in the first half, firing a shot high in the third minute and forcing a save out of Evansville’s Simone Busby in the 30th.

Evansville would roar out of the gate in the second half, challenging sophomore Katie Emig early and often after she entered in net following the break. Bronwyn Boswell accounted for the first two Evansville tallies, going far post in the 50th minute and taking a deflected cross and hammering it home in the 56th minute.

“We came out with a lack of focus in the second half, which is something we addressed and we’ll have to learn from,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “We lack experience in spots, and when you don’t have that experience you have to make sure that you’re locked in.”

The Purple Aces final score came off a 59th-minute corner kick. Emily Richardson served it in and Caitie Dierkes found Noor Medlej to put it away.

The Lady Govs found no offensive solutions in the final half. Sophomore Merritt Monger forced another save from Busby in the 47th minute, while freshman Sophia Fabbro made a nice challenge against Whitney Biggs in the 86th minute.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do on offense,” Guth said. “There were a number of moments when we put some combinations together, but we have to finish.”

Emig settled down in the second half and made two saves, but was ultimately saddled with the loss. Busby got the victory for Evansville.

“We’ve got new bodies all over and we have to give them the opportunity to perform in a game,” Guth said. “Our keeper position is still very competitive, and in front of them we have a very solid back four that just needs to get that game experience.”

Austin Peay returns to Clarksville for Sunday’s home opener against Chattanooga. Due to anticipated heat index issues, first kick has been rescheduled for 5:00pm (CT).

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