UE Soccer

Breaking Records

Reilly Paterson

The UE women’s soccer team shocked everyone with their best season since 2015. New head coach Chris Pfau has made a significant improvement for the women’s soccer program with them competing for the MVC tournament championship. In recent years, the UE women’s team struggled to get themselves to a winning season. However, now in their 2021 Fall season they currently hold the best start in program history and became the first six seed team to advance to the MVC tournament. This team has a bright future and a few key players talk about how they have helped their team get there.

Fifth year senior Michaela Till recently broke the record book for the most saves in school history. She broke the record with 359 saves and finished at 380 total career saves. Nevertheless, Till being one of the best keeper’s UE women’s soccer has ever had, she carries on remaining humble when asked what it feels like to have broken that record, “it felt really good, but I couldn’t have done it without the support from my team. This season we all have been really close so when someone does well we all feel excited for them.” This statement seems true for most of the team. When someone scores every single person including the team and staff, seems to be full of positivity and energy.

Senior Emily Ormson has also become a huge name around Evansville’s athletics from her performances. Ormson currently has seven goals this season as the team’s starting center forward. She shared about her game winning golden goal in the Semifinals of MVC tournament against Valparaiso. “I was so happy to help my team get to the finals. We all have worked so hard for this so it felt good to have helped my team get there.” Same as keeper Till, Ormson shares her success with the team. Ormson is hoping to break more records with her team in the future.

Junior Nicole Benati has been a great addition to this Evansville team when she transferred last fall to play center midfield under Pfau. Unfortunately, in the middle of season Benati suffered an ACL injury. Benati shared,“Even though I’ve been injured this season I have still been able to be a role model for some of the players. My first year on the team I got really close with the underclassmen, they would come to me for advice when they would struggle with similar things I went through my freshman year.” The team definitely felt an impact without Benati’s presence in the midfield, but are hopeful for her return next season. Even though Benati suffered a huge injury she still plays a huge role within the team. Nicole being one of the upperclassmen still supports her team at every game and team event. “When you’re playing you notice the energy of the people on the bench, so now being able to be that person that can give the team energy and help them succeed is a great feeling.” Nicole as well as a few other injured girls drove five hours up to Chicago to watch their team play in the championship game.

In the MVC quarterfinal game this season, the Aces played the 3rd seed team, Indiana State. The Aces conceded a goal to the Sycamores within the first half, but the Aces didn’t give up there. Defender Rachel Rosbourugh was the one to bring hope for the team when she tied it up in the second half. The aces battled the entire game and eventually pushed Indiana State to a penalty shootout. All five takers for the Aces slottled their ball into the back of the net. Not only were the shooters proving themselves, but also keeper Michaela Till who made a great stop to one of the sycamores penalties. After the Aces final shooter made her penalty the entire team rushed her and were ready to take on the semifinals.

Four Aces this season received MVC honors this season. Ormson earned all-MVC First Team Honors and defenders Emilie Hill and Rachel Rosbourough received honorable mention awards for keeping a solid back line this season. One of the freshmen this season, Hailey Autenreib received an all-freshman team award. All four of these players shined in the MVC conference and deserved this recognition. Ormson shared her feelings when receiving this award, “it was honestly unexpected. I hadn’t thought about that award at all until the moment came.”

Michaela Till broke many records at University of Evansville and made her mark. This is her final season of college soccer and something she’s going to miss deeply, “I never thought this day would actually come, it’s bittersweet because you’re proud of what we all did, but it’s the end of a chapter and five years coming to a close.” Till isn’t the only player planning to move on to other things after the season. There are six other women’s soccer players planning on saying goodbye. Another player in her last season Emily Olson shared, “I am thankful that soccer brought everything in my life. In the end I won’t remember the scores of games, but the friendships it brought.” These players have made quite an impact on the team over the years and are going to leave a huge hole in the hearts of the team and the fans.

Although, the aces season fell short in the MVC finals against Loyola Chicago, the women’s soccer team made history this season. Which is something the entire program and team should be proud about. This team created such close bonds that will last them a lifetime and it truly shows when watching them play. Head coach Chris Pfau has a deep roster with many talented girls to choose from. The women’s soccer program has a bright future ahead of them and it will be exciting to hear about the things they accomplish in the upcoming years.