Rachel Essner
Contributing Writer
The Murray State soccer team traveled to Morehead, Kentucky, to take on Morehead State University in their season opener on Tuesday, March 2, for their first game in 480 days.
The Racers scored three goals off of 11 shots, cruising to a 3-1 win over the Eagles. Coming in as a substitute in the 19th minute, sophomore forward Lily Strader passed the ball to teammate senior forward Rebecca Kubin, who tucked the ball away in the 24th minute to give the Racers a 1-0 lead.
Less than 15 minutes later, freshman forward Chloe Barnthouse followed suit, scoring another goal. Barnthouse ran onto a deflected ball and fended off a defender to slip the ball past the Eagles’ goalkeeper in minute 33 of her Racer debut.
The Racers entered halftime with a 2-0 lead after five shots on goal, while the Eagles managed only one shot through the 45-minute half.
Murray State kept its momentum in the second half, coming out with a third goal from sophomore defender Saraya Young in the seventh minute of the second half. Young slipped through the Eagles’ defense to score her first career goal, putting Murray State up 3-0.
The Eagles were able to make it past the Racers’ defense to put up a goal 18 minutes into the half, but the single goal was the extent of their scoring.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Villacres made four saves to keep the Racers on top throughout the game, leading the Racers to a 3-1 victory over the Eagles.
Murray State will kickoff again at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 5, for the home opener against Eastern Kentucky University.
