Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team remained undefeated in Ohio Valley Conference play after blanking Eastern Illinois, 1-0, on Friday evening at the JSU Soccer Field.

The win pushed Jax State's overall mark to 9-2-1 and 2-0 in the OVC.  The nine wins are the most by a Gamecock squad since the 2003 club put 11 in the win column.  JSU has now strung together two league wins for the first time since the end of the 2009 season when it won back-to-back OVC games to close out the year.It was also JSU's sixth shutout of the year.  The Panthers of EIU fell to 2-9 on the season and still in search if their first OVC win.

In an evenly contested match with EIU gaining a 17-14 edge in total shots, JSU senior Nathalee Lariviere provided the game-winning goal in the 15th minute.  The Georgetown, Ontario, Canada-native booted a ball from the left side and sailed it past EIU goalkeeper, Jessica Taldone.  Senior Austen Stoelting and sophomore Jackie Rush were credited with the assist.

“I thought Nathalee (Lariviere) did a great job of putting her ball away and she had other opportunities as well,” said head coach Julie Davis Carlson.  “We did a better job of pressuring and controlling the ball in the second half.  It was a great match and EIU challenged us.”

EIU, who pressured JSU from the opening whistle, had a balance in shots with eight in the first 45 and nine in the second half.  EIU's Hannah Miller turned in a match-high five shots.

After just six shots in the first half, JSU looked to add an insurance goal and had eight opportunities, but could not put it away.  The Gamecocks melted away the final few minutes of the contest to preserve the win.

“This win gives us more confidence as we go into a big match with SIU Edwardsville on Sunday.  “It is going to be a grueling game because it's the second one of the weekend.  SIU is one of the better teams in the OVC and it's a very important match,” added Carlson.

The Cougars of SIUE dropped a 1-0 decision to Tennessee Tech on Friday.

Freshman Kelsey Bright led JSU in shots with four, including three on-goal chances.  Senior goalkeeper turned in a steady performance with seven saves.

The JSU-SIUE contest is slated to get underway at 1 p.m.  Admission is free.