RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky soccer repelled multiple formations and offensive attack schemes on Sunday afternoon, defeating Wright State by a score of 2-1 at the EKU Soccer Field.
 
With the win, EKU moves to 2-2 on the season and has won its last two matches over Wright State dating back to 2012. WSU falls to 3-3 on the year.
 
"We're proud of the group today. We have been through a lot of uncontrollable adversity the last week or so and we battled through it well," said head coach Matt Cosinuke. "Wright State is a good team who caused us some problems at times. We made some adjustments and the players handled it confidently. We're developing a 'Never say die mentality' and putting ourselves in positions to win games. We look forward to two quality opponents and opportunities to grow this coming week."
 
EKU and WSU battled the first 15 minutes of the match, each team shooting four shots, one on-target that was saved by the respected keepers.
 
After the dust settled and each team got into an offensive rhythm, the Colonels netted their first goal of the match in the 20th minute. 
 
Sophomore Lucy Ream sent a ball from the midline that found junior Kylie Fitzgerald in-waiting, the Olmstead Falls, Ohio native then broke past two Raider defenders and shot a ball using her right foot from 18 yards out to give EKU the 1-0 advantage and her third career goal.
 
The Colonels and Raiders would continue to go back-and-forth in possession over the next 25 minutes. Junior Maia Ransom and sophomore Gretta Gunn fired off two shots in that period, both just off-target.
 
EKU would close out the first half with the advantage in saves (3) and possession (51 percent). Wright State narrowly edged the Colonels in shots (9-8) and shots on goal (3-2), while each team took four corner kicks.
 
The Colonels attempted the go-ahead goal less than 35 seconds out of the half, Ransom fired a shot on frame that just missed the top of the goal, saved by WSU keeper Jessika Seward. 
 
WSU would equalize after the break off a penalty kick. Marcella Sizner was chosen to take the shot for WSU after a foul in the box, she sent a ball to the left of EKU keeper Lauren Seedlock, who went right, to tie the match at one (60').
 
Wright State flipped their offensive gameplan after the equalizer and pressed the Colonels on the right side of the field. WSU's Olga Massombo was aggressive and shot two on frame, saved by Seedlock.
 
In the 67th minute, the home team found their advantage and revenged the Wright State previous penalty kick off a foul in the WSU box. Senior Maddy Lemery was the designated penalty kick taker for the Colonels, she used her right foot and shot a ball past the Raiders keeper for the 2-1 lead.
 
EKU outshot WSU 3-2 in the final 20 minutes of play, as the Raiders changed their game plan to an offense-heavy formation. 
 
Senior Audrey Anderson took two of the EKU three shots after the 70-minute mark and surpassed over 100 career shots in the maroon and white.
 
The Colonels would close out the remaining 10 minutes of regulation only allowing one shot on target, as WSU's Sizer attempted her second goal of the match, saved by Seedlock bottom right. The Raiders offensive prowess came up short and EKU took home the favoring result 2-1.
 
In today's match, Fitzgerald and Lemery tied their career-high in goals (1) and points (2). Sophomore Tiatianna Jones made her first collegiate start in the contest. Seedlock grabbed six saves, one shy of her season-high.
 
EKU claimed the final advantage in shots (17-16), saves (6-3), corner kicks (7-4), and possession (53 percent) over the Raiders.
 
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