CONWAY, Ark. — The Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) women’s soccer team faced a challenging match against Central Arkansas, ultimately succumbing to a 3-2 defeat this past Sunday afternoon.
With this result, EKU’s record stands at 9-3-4, including 4-2-2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Gold Division, where they remain on 14 points as the regular season approaches its conclusion with just two games remaining.
Game Highlights
- EKU Goals:
- Silvia Shirey – Scored in the 45th minute.
- Ana Manning – Scored in the 63rd minute.
- Shirey’s standout performance:
This goal marks Shirey’s second of her career and came shortly after her previous highlight goal was featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays.
- Manning’s contribution:
Her goal was the fourth of the season, adding to her total of nine career goals.
Match Summary
Central Arkansas established an early advantage, netting two goals within the first 26 minutes, including a penalty kick awarded in the sixth minute after a handball incident in the box.
EKU managed to respond just before halftime when Shirey cut the deficit to 2-1, with assists credited to teammates Ella Grode and Emma Wolf.
The Bears extended their lead to 3-1 shortly after halftime, as Sophia Backstrom skillfully placed a shot past EKU goalkeeper Jordan LeVasseur in the 50th minute.
In a determined effort to recover, EKU’s Lauren Link delivered a perfect cross to Manning, who finished sliding to score in the 63rd minute. Despite this late surge, the Colonels could not find an equalizer before the final whistle.
Player Performance
LeVasseur recorded seven saves during the match, reflecting a robust performance despite conceding three goals, which brought her to a season tally of two losses on a record of 7-2-4.
Upcoming Matches
EKU is set to return to its home ground for its final home games of the regular season, starting with a matchup against Austin Peay on Wednesday, October 22 at 4:00 PM ET. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.
