The team lost in a shooting frenzy and has yet to earn a win this season.
The Racers (0-5-0) returned home Sunday to host the Norse of Northern Kentucky (2-4-0) after a two-game road trip against Western Michigan and Indiana State, dropping both games.
Murray State gave up two goals in the first half minutes apart. The first came in the 26th minute when freshman Hanna Pateryn took a pass and blasted it into the back of the net. The Norse scored again fewer than three minutes later after freshman Maria Silbersack netted her first of the game.
Murray State battled back before the half cutting the lead to one after freshman forward, Jenna Finke took a header pass from junior forward Shauna Wicker. Wicker took it down the left side of the box and drilled it to the opposite post just beating the Norse goalie, for her second of the season.
Freshman forward Megg Hudson tied up the game in the 53rd minute after she recorded her first goal as a Racer. Hudson pushed through the Norse defense to finish off a saved shot from senior defender Jenelle Cunningham.
Silbersack gave Northern Kentucky the lead for good one minute later as she put away a rebound off the crossbar for her second of the game. Murray State gave up an own goal in the 74th minute to extend Northern Kentucky’s lead to 4-2.
Head Coach Beth Acreman said the team played well but needs to shore up the defense.
“There were times in the game when they stuck to the game plan and played well,” Acreman said. “However, there have been a lot of silly goals that could have and need to be prevented.”
The Racers outshot the Norse 24-20 during the game and had a season high six shots on goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Yi Du made six saves in the loss but would come out of the game with an injury, giving freshman Latisha Stevenson her first minutes of the season.
The Racers will finish up non-conference play with two more chances to notch a first win this weekend with two games at Cutchin Field. The Racers face Alabama A&M Friday at 3 p.m. and South Alabama Sunday at 1 p.m.
Acreman said the team will work this week to regain their focus and mentality.
“We’ll use this week to get our minds and mentality right before this weekend’s games,” Acreman said. “Every game is important since we still haven’t gotten that win.”
The Racers begin OVC play Sept. 23 at Austin Peay.
Story by Nick Dolan, Staff writer