Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Ky. – Freshman Bailly Bounds scored her first collegiate goal in the 6^th minute to give the Eastern Kentucky University soccer team an early lead, but visiting Cleveland State rallied in the second half to earn a narrow 2-1 victory on Friday afternoon in the Colonels' home opener at EKU Soccer Field.
 
Bounds' goal was the result of a series of missed clearances in front of the goal by Cleveland State. The freshman from Las Vegas opportunistically swooped into the fray and buried a shot in the lower right corner of the net to put the Colonels up, 1-0.
 
CSU (2-0-1) began to assert itself after the early EKU (0-0-3) score, though. In the 11^th minute, Toni Dickson scored from close range off a corner kick from McKenna Vento.
 
The Colonels nearly retook the lead later in the first half, when dangerous junior Cassie Smith broke free from the defense; however, Smith's shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
 
The Vikings notched the decisive goal six minutes into the second half, when Vicki Havas scored off a rebounded shot by Peyton Lewis to give CSU a lead it would not relinquish.

"At times, we looked like we were doing enough to earn a result," head coach Andrew Fleming said. "We were aggressive going forward and we looked athletic. We really only had one major breakdown defensively, and credit to Cleveland State, they capitalized with a very good goal. While we were effective going forward, we simply did not execute very well in the final third and, therefore, did not capitalize on what could have been an entertaining offensive performance."
 
Bounds led EKU with 3 shots in the game, two of which were on goal. Senior Amani Thomas attempted two shots.
 
Havas and Dickson fired four shots apiece for Cleveland State.
 
Freshmen defenders Emily Beaver and Kacy Eckley played all 90 minutes on the backline for EKU. Freshman midfielder Haley Kemper also went the distance for the Colonels.
 
Senior Samm Melton made six saves in goal for EKU.

"We hate moral victories," Fleming added. "But, when we look at how this game went a year ago and how it went tonight, we'll think that we're making progress but we're just not where we need to be yet."
 
The Colonels return to action on Sunday when they host UNCG at 1:00 p.m.