Women's Soccer

MVC Women's Soccer Weekly Notebook (9-2-25)

Evansville captured its first win over a P4 opponent since 2008, taking down Purdue 2-1 on Thursday.  It’s the first P4 win by a league member in women’s soccer since Aug. 20, 2023, when then-member Missouri State downed Oklahoma State, 2-1.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Taylor Wehrer, Evansville
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK:  Kaya Durkee, Illinois State
GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK:  Allie Lammers, Evansville
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK:  Martha Goddard, Valparaiso
 
  • Belmont held its third-straight foe without a goal as the Bruins tied Lindenwood on Sunday, 0-0.  Belmont’s string of three-straight matches without a loss is its longest since putting together a five-match streak (W-W-T-W-W) from Sept. 8-22, 2024.
  • The league’s current .509 non-conference winning percentage is its best in eight seasons (since 2017 when the league was at .582 in non-league play). 
  • Southern Illinois exploded for four first-half goals in its Thursday 4-0 win at Alabama A&M, extending its school record best-start to a 4-0 record after the win. The Salukis fell to USI on Sunday, 2-0, to fall to 4-1.
  • Illinois State had its largest win over an opponent in six seasons as ISU toppled Western Illinois 5-0 on Thursday.  The last time ISU won by five or more goals was on Sept. 28, 2019, vs. UNI (also a 5-0 result).  On Sunday, the Redbirds made it two shutouts in a row (1-0 win vs. UT Martin) -- the first back-to-back shutout wins under head coach Raleigh DeRose and the first since the 2020-21 season for Illinois State.
  • Murray State’s Breece Bass netted the game-winning goal with under 10 minutes remaining in a 3-2 Sunday win against Marshall.  It marked the first time MSU has scored three or more goals since Sept. 1, 2024, against UT Martin. 
  • UNI throttled visiting Viterbo, 5-0, on Sunday. Olivia Knoepfle’s two assists were her 14th and 15th of her career, passing Ashley Harrington (2020-23) for the most in program history.
  • In Indiana State’s 3-0 Senior Day win against Western Illinois, Tori Angelo and Skylar Cano netted their first goals of the season.
  • The 2-1 win over Wright State on Sunday was Valpo’s first come-from-behind victory since rallying for a 2-1 win over Milwaukee Aug. 25, 2024.
  • UIC’s Jillian Higgins got her first career start on Sunday at Eastern Washington and responded with her first career goal against the Eagles.
  • The reigning league Player of the Week Eve Blakey of Drake scored both of the Bulldogs’ goals in a 2-0 win against SIUE on Thursday.  She’s tops in the MVC in total points (12) this season.

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PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taylor Wehrer, Evansville, F, So., Las Vegas. Nev. / Desert Oasis HS
Scored the game-winning goal in both of UE’s wins this week. Scored a free kick goal from 28 yards out against Purdue to put the Aces up 2-1 in the 58th minute. Opened the scoring against SIUE on Sunday with a goal in the 11th minute. Her three goals this season lead the team.  The win against Purdue was the first P4 victory for the Aces since 2008.

DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Kaya Durkee, Illinois State, D, So., Danville, Calif. / Carondelet HS
Tallied a career-high two assists against Western Illinois in the Redbirds’ 5-0 victory. Posted back-to-back shutouts against Western Illinois and UT Martin while playing a key role at both ends of the pitch.

GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
Allie Lammers, Evansville, GK, So., Cincinnati, Ohio / Mount Notre Dame
Did not allow a goal in 135 minutes this week. Came into the game to start the second half against Purdue and held the Boilermakers scoreless, facing 13 shots and making 3 saves. Made her first career start against SIUE on Sunday and recorded a clean sheet, facing eight shots with two saves. Went 2-0 on the week.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Martha Goddard, Valparaiso, Fr., Clapham, London, England / Alleyns School 
Scored first collegiate goal in 55th minute against Wright State to level match in an eventual 2-1 win. Delivered assist on match-winning goal against the Raiders to complete a 3-point effort. Had hand in all three of Valpo’s goals on the week, as she tallied an assist on the Beacons’ goal against Eastern Illinois as well. First Valpo player with assists in three consecutive matches since 2017. Three assists this season already the most by a Valpo freshman since 2019.