EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Jacksonville State soccer team dropped its first Ohio Valley Conference road match after a 6-1 setback to SIU Edwardsville on Sunday afternoon at Korte Stadium.
The Gamecocks fall to 3-8 on the season and 0-3 in league play while the Cougars improved to 3-3-3 and 1-1-2 against conference foes. JSU will remain on the road, traveling to Eastern Illinois and Belmont next weekend.
SIUE took advantage of its 11 corner kick opportunities with the first three goals coming off a corner kick situation in the first half. The Cougars turned in the first goal of the day in the fifth minute with a netted header from Mackenzie Litzsinger. SIUE added a second goal that came off a corner kick five minutes later with a goal by Courtney Benning. The third goal off a corner kick came from Megan Keevan in the 37th minute.
"It was a really disappointing performance. In four of their six goals, they came from crosses and headers. Our goalkeepers and defenders have to do a better job of controlling and competing for the deep crosses in our 18-yard box," said head coach
Neil Macdonald.
The Cougars, who had 21 total shots and 17 on-goal looks in the contest, extended the lead with a goal in the 51st and 61st minute before Jax State sophomore
Reilly Kucko collected her first career goal in the 80th minute. JSU finished 11 total shots, including nine on-goal chances. Sophomore
Ali Thomas and senior
Emma Meadows had two shots each to lead JSU.
"Losing those early battles put us on the back foot for the rest of the game. It is an issue that we've worked on and will have to continue to work on before we play again next week," added Macdonald.
SIUE had five individuals have multiple shot attempts, led by Andrea Frerker.
Jax State will make another trek to the state of Illinois next Friday to face EIU. Match time is set for 3 p.m. on the EIU campus. The Gamecocks will stop in Nashville, Tennessee next Sunday to wrap up the weekend. The contest with the Bruins will get started at 2 p.m. at Rose Park.
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