The Murray State women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on Thursday in Chicago, Illinois with a 1-0 victory over Evansville.

"Phenomenal work today in tough conditions," head coach Matt Lodge said. "The players hunted down every loose ball and just wanted to win. During tournament play, it's always going to be the team that wants it more and I think we were that team today."

Mary Hardy scored the lone goal of the match on an assist from Hailey Cole after just 38 seconds of play. It was her eighth goal and first game-winner of the season and the fourth game-winner of her career. She now has 12 career goals as a Racer.

Cole dished her second assist of the year and 13th of her career.

Keeper Griselda Revolorio totaled six saves on 14 shots to secure her fifth clean sheet of the 2023 campaign.

Tori Schrimpf led the Racers with three shots and one in frame. Hardy, Megan Wilson and Morgan Parker each took two shots in the match.

Murray State now turns its attention to a second-round matchup with UIC in Chicago, Ill. on Sunday, October 29 at 12 p.m. CT.

"We keep our season alive," Lodge added. "We keep working and prepping for a very good UIC team that beat us earlier in the season."