<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4g5iTa_0vkAwKcA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4g5iTa_0vkAwKcA00" width="1920" height="1080" ></figure>MOREHEAD – Four days after recording its largest regular-season margin of victory in a decade, the Morehead State soccer team is looking to build on its success as it travels to Macomb, Ill., for a Thursday tilt against Western Illinois. The game will take place at the John MacKenzie Alumni Field with kickoff at 4 p.m. ET.Morehead State (4-3-3/1-0-0) will be looking to start 2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play for the third straight year. The Eagles currently sport a three-game unbeaten streak and are 2-2-2 on the road this fall.It will be the farthest distance MSU will travel for a game this season at 483 miles."It's a long road game and we are excited to get going again after Sunday's result," said MSU coach Paul Cox. "We know every game in the OVC is a tough tone and this one is no different."The Eagles defeated Eastern Illinois at the MSU Soccer Field on Sunday, 5-1. It was their largest margin of victory since taking down the Panthers 5-0 on Oct. 26, 2014. Last Thursday, the Blue and Gold tied Radford 1-1 at home.Morehead State is averaging 1.30 goals per game, 11.8 shots per game, 3.8 corner kicks per game, 8.9 fouls per game, 2.4 offside flags per game and 4.1 saves per game. Its opponents have per-game averages of 1.2 gpg, 13.1 shots per game, 4.3 ckpg, 6.8 fpg, 3.3 offside flags per game and 4.0 saves per game.For the first time this season, sophomore forward Hedda Ornberg has moved into the lead in team scoring. The reigning OVC Offensive Player of the Week has four goals, eight points, 16 shots and 11 shots on goal to her credit. She also has recorded two game-winning goals.Freshman forward Carlie Thurmond is tied with Ornberg in points at eight, which come from three goals and two assists. She also adds 14 shots. Junior midfielder Kennedy Baquero has three goals and six points, while freshman forward Ava Peck has two goals and two assists for six points as well. Baquero tops the squad with 22 total shots and 12 of those on goal. Peck has taken nine shots.Freshman Lilly Bailey has played every minute in goal of the last three and a half games. On the season, she has a 1-1-2 record, a 1.62 goals against average, 18 saves and a .750 save percentage.Western Illinois (0-8-0/0-1-0) has struggled in its two seasons as members of the OVC. In 2023, the Leathernecks finished 3-8-5 overall and 1-4-4 in conference play. Last fall, they claimed a season-ending home win over Lindenwood, 2-1, but prior to that the last victory was Sept. 3, 2023, (3-1 at home over Green Bay). Currently, the squad is in an eight-game slide. Over its last 18 outings, the club is 1-13-4.In 2024, WIU is 0-2 on its home field, but also played Green Bay in nearby Monmouth, Ill., in a home-away-from-home outing on Sept. 5. The Leathernecks have been outscored 9-0 in their three "home" games this season but has not been at John MacKenzie Alumni Field since Sept. 8.Last season, WIU went 2-2-3 at home. In its last contest in Macomb prior to the victory over Lindenwood, Western Illinois tied Eastern Illinois 0-0.The Leathernecks have only scored two goals this season but have allowed just six in their last four outings. In that stretch, they fell 1-0 at Lindenwood on Sunday, 2-1 to Drake on Sept. 15, 2-0 at St Thomas (Minn.) on Sept. 13 and 1-0 at home to Illinois State on Sept. 8.On the year, the team averages 0.25 gpg, 4.1 shots per game, 1.0 ckpg, 10.38 fpg, 0.5 offside violations per game and 8.5 saves per game.Its opponents are averaging 2.75 gpg, 23.8 shots per game, 8.13 ckpg, 9.63 fpg, 2.63 offside flags per game and 2.13 saves per game.Senior midfielder Alexis Betker and junior forward Callie McMurtrey have the team's goals. Senior forward/midfielder Rachel Balinao has the lone assist. Senior midfielder Kayla Turner has six shots. McMurtrey and junior forward Autumn Wilson each have five, and junior forward Landry McCoid has four. Turner, McMurtrey and McCoid all have three shots on goal.Freshman Ariel Bernard has seen most of the action in goal. She owns a 0-6-0 record, a 2.15 gaa, 56 saves and an .800 save percentage.Twenty-four players have seen the field this fall, with five starting every game.MSU has never beaten WIU. The Leathernecks hold a 1-0-1 series advantage. The two teams met on Sept. 24, 2023, in Morehead with the game ending in a 0-0 tie. Prior to that, they played on Sept. 21, 2001, at Indiana State, with Western Illinois coming away with a 4-2 victory. This will be the first-ever meeting in Macomb, Ill.In last year's contest, MSU out-shot WIU 24-2, but only five of the Eagles' attempts came on goal. Ornberg led the Blue and Gold with five shots. MSU took all four corner kicks, Western Illinois held a 10-8 lead in fouls, WIU had the lone offside call and both teams had a yellow card. Morehead State made only one save in net.Fifth-year midfielder Sydnee Sagal and senior forward Sachiko Gamo had the Leathernecks' shots in last year's MSU game. Fifth-year goalkeeper Isabel Navas Rodriguez made all five saves.Thursday's contest will be broadcast on ESPN+. It can be viewed at the link: https://shorturl.at/yMlrM. Live stats are available at https://shorturl.at/GuoJI.Morehead State's next game is Sunday at home against Little Rock. Due to the impending impact of Hurricane Helene, keep up with MSU's social media sites and the msueagles.com website for updates on changes to the schedule. The game is currently slated to kick off at noon. The promotions for the day include "Pups at the Pitch" and free hot dogs.</div></body>

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MSU Soccer Rides Momentum into Western Illinois Match

MOREHEAD – Four days after recording its largest regular-season margin of victory in a decade, the Morehead State soccer team is looking to build on its success as it travels to Macomb, Ill., for a Thursday tilt against Western Illinois. The game will take place at the John MacKenzie Alumni Field with kickoff at 4 p.m. ET.