BOX SCORE

VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team bounced back from a home defeat on Friday by going on the road and battling Valparaiso to a double overtime scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon. In her first career start, freshman goalkeeper Lyndsay Vance played all 110 minutes and made nine saves en route to her first career shutout.

“Lyndsay made some great saves and was good off her line,” head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. “She went from never having played meaningful minutes in a D-I soccer game to playing 110 minutes of a hard-fought shutout.”

With the tie, EKU is now 1-4-1 on the year while Valpo remains undefeated at 3-0-2. The Crusaders, who were picked to finish third in the tough Horizon League before the season began, were off to their best four-game start in program history before Sunday.

“Bouncing back against a team very similar talent-wise to the team that beat us on Friday shows the character of this team,” Basalyga said. “I’m very proud of the way they responded.”

Despite being outshot 21-9 on the day, the EKU defense held on for its second shutout of the season.

“We wanted the defense to stay disciplined early in the game and not allow goals off corner kicks, and they did both of those things,” Basalyga said. “Hopefully this gives them confidence going forward.”

Vanced echoed Basalyga’s sentiments towards the Colonel backline.

“Our defensive shape was really on today,” Vance said. “They were really committed to not letting many shots get off.”

The Colonels almost won the game in the second overtime as freshman Nicole Donnelly fired a shot on goal; however, it was denied and the game ended in a draw.

Donnelly, senior Carly Muller, sophomore Katie Collar and freshman Brittany Nomady all led EKU with two shots apiece on the day.

“We’re still growing on the attack,” Basalyga said. “But, again, we’re seeing some glimpses of who we want to be.”

Valpo’s Luisa Desario led all players with seven shots on the day, three of which were on goal.

Like Vance, junior Heather Bruce and sophomore Deja Tennon played all 110 minutes of the hard-fought draw.

The Colonels return to action next Sunday, Sept. 12, when they host in-state rival Western Kentucky at EKU Soccer Field at 1:00 p.m.