Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

STEPHENVILLE, Texas - The Eastern Kentucky University women's soccer team suffered its first United Athletic Conference loss of the season, falling 2-0 at Tarleton State on a rainy Thursday night.
 
With the UAC's two top offensive attacks facing off, Thursday's match had the potential to be a high-scoring affair. However, both defenses held firm through the opening 45 minutes, sending the teams into halftime scoreless. The Texans broke through after the intermission, scoring twice while generating seven shots in the second half.
 
EKU (8-5-2, 4-1-1 UAC) was unable to find an offensive rhythm throughout the night, finishing with seven shots, including two on target. The Colonels' best chance came on an apparent goal in the first half but was called off.

Jordan LeVasseur kept the Texans off the board in the first half, diving to collect the ball at the feet of a Tarleton attacker in the 10th minute before making her lone save of the match on a shot from just outside the box in the 12th minute.

The Colonels appeared to take an early lead in the 40th minute when Avery May fired a left-footed strike into the upper-right corner following a free kick, but the goal was called off due to a handball.
 
Tarleton's offense was able to flip the script after halftime, scoring a goal just outside the box into the top left corner past a diving LeVasseur in the 48th minute.
 
EKU controlled possession for much of the second half but couldn't create scoring chances until the 81st minute, when Rachel Robinson played a long through ball to Avery May. May found herself one-on-one with the Tarleton goalkeeper, who denied her shot to preserve the Texans' lead.

Tarleton sealed the victory in the 87th minute when an attacker received the ball in the middle of the box and buried a shot into the right side of the net for the 2-0 final.

In the loss, May led the Colonels with three shots and accounted for both of EKU's shots on goal.

Despite the loss, the Colonels remain atop the UAC Blue Division and can clinch a conference tournament berth with a West Georgia loss on Friday.

The Colonels return to action Sunday at Abilene Christian, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.