RICHMOND, Ky. – EKU soccer (1-3-1) earned its first win of the 2023 season in comeback fashion over Eastern Michigan by a score of 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the EKU Soccer Field.
 
With Sunday's result, EKU has now beaten four different Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents since the 2019 season.
 
A batch of key performances throughout the squad propelled Eastern Kentucky University to victory, highlighted by the first career start for keeper Melanie McKeown, who rejected nine shots in 90 minutes of action in the box.
 
The Colonels were lifted by senior Kylie Fitzgerald and sophomore Payton Payne, who struck her first collegiate and game winning goal in the match. Fitzgerald's equalizer in the 51st minute was assisted by Mackenzie Burdick and Gretta Gunn off the corner attempt. Gunn tallied her 11th career assist and team-leading third of the season days after setting the program record in career assists.
 
Fitzgerald led the Colonels in shots (4), breaking her career value set two seasons ago. Freshman Ruby Dunlevy was the only other Colonel to log multi-shots in the win, striking one on target. Out of 27 student-athletes that played in Sunday's match, 13 logged at least one shot attempt, EKU's highest value of the season.
 
Eastern Michigan scored the go-ahead goal in the 26th minute by Kate Robinson, who capitalized on EKU's defensive mistake, striking a loose ball at the penalty spot to find pylon minutes after the first half hydration pause.
 
EKU attempted five shots in the final 19 minutes of action in the first half, including a shot by Kaia Griffin, which prompted a crucial substitution that marked the first appearance of the season for Nerea de Diego, Jami Anderson, and Payne.
 
The Colonels applied pressure out of the half and found the equalizer as Fitzgerald converted a corner in the 51st, assisted by Burdick and Gunn. 
 
Payne gave EKU what would eventually be the game winning goal in the 66th minute, striking a beautiful ball from outside the 18 that tucked into the back left of the net. The Clarence, N.Y. native made her first appearance of the 2023 season in the win.
 
EKU attempted three additional shots from de Diego, Anderson, and Dunlevy and held the Eagles scoreless in the final 24 minutes of play to secure its first win of the season.
 
The Colonels edged EMU in saves (9-4) and corners (6-5). Both teams were level at 17 shots apiece. With Sunday's result, EKU has logged six shots on goal in each of its last three games.
 
Eastern Kentucky University soccer returns to action on Thursday with a showdown between in-state foe Northern Kentucky at home.