RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky soccer had goals from Senior Maddy Lemery, Freshman Emma Spivey, and Junior Maia Ransom en-route to a 3-1 win over UIC on Sunday afternoon at the EKU Soccer Field.
 
With the win, EKU (4-2) completes their non-conference slate on a three-match win streak, the best span since the 2020-21 season. Colonels head coach Matt Cosinuke ties his record for consecutive wins at three in the win as well.
 
"Today was a statement win for us because it took a comprehensive team performance and team effort to get the result," said Cosinuke. "It was rainy, it was ugly, it was direct at times and then at other times it was really good. For us to start how we started at the beginning of this non-conference, where we took some on the chin a couple times, we've really learned a lot, continued to improve and I think we have a good shot heading into conference play."
 
Fifth-year goalkeeper Lauren Seedlock set the tone for the match in the 7th minute, she faced Kaitlyn Montague in a one-on-one situation after UIC was awarded a penalty kick. The Simpsonville, S.C. native acrobatically saved the Flames kick in the upper-left side of the frame to keep the match at nil.
 
13 minutes later, Lemery scored the first goal of the contest and placed EKU at a one-goal advantage. The senior found a ball that pinged off the back of a UIC defender from a free kick, landing herself in a one-on-one situation with keeper Lauren Keiser and used her right foot to score.
 
The Colonels went 32 minutes without attempting another shot as rain began to fall in Richmond.
 
EKU found their two-goal lead in the 44th minute, as Lydia Jervier sent a ball into the UIC box and started a chain-reaction of Colonel shot attempts.
 
From the Jervier cross, sophomore Gretta Gunn shot a ball that was blocked by a UIC defender. Seconds later, senior Ali Kirk found the rebound and attempted a shot on frame that was denied by Keiser, the ball would then roll five yards off the keepers body, freshman Spivey then sent the ball into the back of the net for her first collegiate goal.
 
Eastern Kentucky went into the pause with a 2-0 lead as game officials decided to condense the halftime break from the standard 15 minutes to 10 due to weather.
  
From the 52nd minute to 71st minute, EKU attempted three shots on frame, two of those coming from fifth-year forward Celia Lopez. 
 
Junior Ransom was awarded the Colonels second PK of the match, this time capitalizing and giving EKU a 3-0 lead. Ransom shot a ball in the middle of the frame that rolled the keepers body and hit the top of the crossbar. The Fairlawn, Ohio product caught her own miss and placed the ball in the back of the next on her next attempt using her left foot.
 
The Flames found their lone goal of the match after a physical back-and-forth contest in the last 20 minutes.
 
Seedlock stopped two UIC attempts on goal in the 87th minute to bring her total to seven on the day and send the home team back to the locker room with the win.
 
EKU finds the 3-1 win despite not having the lead in shots (20-14) and corner kicks (8-2). UIC and EKU split possession at 50 percent.
 
Eastern Kentucky begins its second campaign as an ASUN member next week, as the Colonels are set to host North Alabama on Thursday, Sept. 15 and Central Arkansas on Sunday, Sept. 18.
 
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