(DEFENDER ABBY WIEDERMANN/COURTESY OF WKU ATHLETICS)
(COURTESY OF WKU ATHLETICS)
BOWLING GREEN – Goalkeeper Maddie Davis’ six saves, and the scoring attack of the Hilltoppers leads WKU to its second straight win, defeating Evansville, 4-1, on Sunday night at the WKU Soccer Complex.
After a defensive stalemate in the first half, the Hilltoppers and Evansville came out in the second half to put up five total goals on the scoreboard between the two teams.
In the 52nd minute, Kendall Wade broke the scoring drought with a header off a Georgia Liapis serve into the box. Less than three minutes later, Kayla Meyer netted a long-range shot that fired past the keeper into the upper left corner.
Freshman Abby Wiedermann added onto the Hilltopper’s lead with two goals in the final 10 minutes of the match. Her first goal came off a one-touch shot from just outside the box on a pass from fellow freshman Maggie Morris. Her second of the night came in the last minute of play on a header from a serve into the box from Aspen Seaich.
“I think the first half, both teams were trying to feel each other out,” said head coach Jason Neidell. “I can’t remember the last time we scored four goals in a half. I thought we really stepped up our pressure on both sides of the ball in the second half. I thought we moved the ball pretty well because our spacing was much better in the second half than the first.”
The win marked WKU’s first time scoring four goals in a half since scoring four in the second half against Alabama A&M on Sept. 15, 2019 in a 7-1 win. WKU also improves to 9-1-2 against Evansville all-time, including a 5-1-0 record against the Purple Aces in Bowling Green.
“It was a dream (to score two goals in her third collegiate game),” said defender Abby Wiedermann. “I don’t really know how else to explain it. I’m a center back, wing back is not my main position, but I came in here ready to play wing back. I definitely feel confident in playing that position now.”
WKU Soccer will hit the road for their next game to take on No. 9 Arkansas on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. in Fayetteville, AR.