Box Score

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team attempted a season-high 17 shots, but could not find the back of the net, as the Colonels were shut out at Xavier, 2-0, on Wednesday night at Xavier Soccer Complex.

With the loss, EKU drops to 3-4-1 on the season, while the win improves XU to 5-4-0.

The EKU offense was extremely potent in defeat. The Colonels outshot XU, 17-12, on the evening and more than doubled the Musketeers’ number of shots on goal and corner kicks; however, for the second time in their last three outings, they could not convert.

“Tonight was not our night,” head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. “We gave up a very soft early goal, but we had several dangerous chances that just wouldn’t fall, and their keeper came up with several big saves. I think we over-complicated the game in the first half and players were trying to do too much, but when we started to speed the game up in the second half, we had more success.”

Junior Nikki Donnelly paced the dangerous Colonel attack with six shots, three of which were on goal. The forward, who was playing in her hometown of Cincinnati, now leads EKU with 20 shots on the season and is on pace to break her own single season shots record of 40 set in 2010. Junior Tess Akgunduz, another Cincinnati native, came off the bench to record three shots in the game.

EKU’s offense particularly came to life in the second half, as the Colonels outshot the Musketeers, 12-3, during that 45-minute span. EKU has now outshot its last three opponents by a margin of 29-16 during the second half.

XU got on the board with a goal by Erin McGauley in the 13th minute, and the Musketeers added late insurance on a corner kick goal by Brooke Eberly in the 74th minute.

Senior Deja Tennon, junior Lauren Fant and sophomore #Emily D’Italia# went the distance on EKU’s backline, while the Colonels’ freshman goalkeeper Erika Wolfer made one save while playing all 90 minutes in net during the loss.

“We are disappointed in the result,” Basalyga added. “But minus the two goals, I’m pleased with our work rate and commitment to get into the attack.”

EKU returns home to host Transylvania on Friday at 5:00 p.m. at EKU Soccer Field.