Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team took an early lead off a goal by sophomore Kaylynn Brown in the in the eighth minute, but settled for a 1-1 tie against visiting Wright State on Sunday afternoon at EKU Soccer Field.

EKU moves to 2-2-1 on the season with the result. Wright State, which arrived in Richmond with a solid win over Ohio and draws with Denver and Depaul, goes to 2-1-2.

“We’ve had a tough stretch of games with Kentucky, Cincinnati and Wright State,” head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. “And there hasn’t been a moment in those games where stopped competing.”

Just eight minutes into the game, Brown received a nifty cross from junior Nikki Donnelly and flicked it past WSU goalkeeper Brooke McCurdy from about three yards out to give the Colonels a quick advantage. It was Brown’s first goal and Donnelly’s first assist of the fall.

“We had been training for that near-post run in practice all week,” Brown said. “So it was nice to see it work in a game. Getting my first goal this early in the season will hopefully give me more confidence going forward.”

The Raiders, however, answered in the 24th minute when Ashley Miltko buried a shot from 25 yards out that sailed over EKU keeper Erika Wolfer’s head and evened the score.

Following the early flurry of goals, though, both defenses stiffened and the result was a double-overtime stalemate.

Senior Deja Tennon, junior Lauren Fant and sophomores #Emily D’Italia and Paige Larkin# played all 110 minutes on EKU’s backline, while Wolfer made six saves, including a key one late in the second half that prevented the potential game-winning goal.

“We had heavy legs today after a track race against Cincinnati on Friday night,” Basalyga said. “But, I’m proud of our team’s composure and fight to get the home result, because a tie is certainly better than a loss and it counts as a point come conference play.”

EKU returns to action next weekend with tournament games against Kennesaw State and College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C.

“We’re very strong defensively,” Brown said. “But we need to start putting the ball in the back of the net and getting results. Hopefully we can go down to Charleston and come away with a pair of wins.”