RICHMOND, Ky. – Behind a historic three assist game from sophomore midfielder Chiara Premoli, the Eastern Kentucky University women's soccer team completes the 2024 regular season with a 3-1 win over in-state Bellarmine on Friday afternoon at the EKU Soccer Field.
 
Premoli's three assists on Friday were the most in a single game in program history.  Prior to Friday's game in the program's 20-year history, a student-athlete had recorded two assists on 15 different occasions.
 
EKU's three goals came from three different goal scorers, starting with the opening goal from Ana Manning in the 2nd minute, the game-winning goal from Maddy Murphy in the 40th, and another from Ella Grode in the 47th.
 
With the win, EKU ends its regular season with a 10-7-2 overall record and 7-3-1 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play.  Friday's win marks the first 10-win season for the Colonels since 2017 and is just the fourth team in program history to record 10 wins in a single season.
 
EKU's 7-3-1 record against ASUN opponents marks the most wins in conference play since 2016 (8) and the second most in school history.  
 
The Colonels got on the board right out of the gate in the 2nd minute as Manning caught a lofty corner kick from Premoli and used her head to find the net.
 
EKU padded its lead in the 40th minute as Murphy scored off a set piece free kick from Premoli, using her right boot to find the lower left of the frame.
 
At the half, EKU went into the locker room with a 2-0 lead after narrowly out-shooting the Knights, 6-5.
 
EKU would push its lead to three out of the break as Grode caught another set piece free kick from Premoli in the 47th minute, breaking the school record three assists in a single match.
 
EKU nearly extended its lead to 4-0 in the 61st minute, and another assist from Premoli, however, the set piece goal was waived off by the referee for offsides.
 
In the following 20 minutes of action, Bellarmine was given two yellow cards for unsporting conduct as a chippy match ensued.  The Knights would find a goal in the 64th minute from freshman Mackenzie Carle who hit a ball in the top of the frame.
 
Despite the BU goal, EKU would hold the Knights scoreless for the remaining 26 minute of play to end Friday's fixture with a 3-1 win.
 
EKU will wait until tomorrow's three ASUN games go final to determine its placement in the ASUN Conference Tournament.  As of Friday evening, EKU sits in third place in the ASUN tables with 22 points and would earn a host bid with losses from North Florida and Lipscomb on Saturday.
 
Fans can follow alongside the ASUN Conference scoreboard here and keep up with the standings here.
 
The ASUN Tournament is scheduled to kick off on Oct. 31 and run to Nov. 10, the event will be hosted at campus sites around the league.  For more information on the tournament, click here.