EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE women's soccer dropped its 2023 season opener Thursday with a 2-0 loss at Korte Stadium to fellow 2022 NCAA Tournament participant Missouri State.
SIUE Head Coach
Derek Burton said the Cougars did not have the start it wanted but settled down midway through the first half.
"It was not an ideal start," he said, "We were very reactionary. We allowed them to dictate a lot of the game."
Burton said the Cougars were effective in creating chances late in the first half.
However, Missouri State sent the Cougars to the locker toom down 1-0 with a goal at 43:03 from Kaeli Benedict from the left side on a pass from Iraia Arrue.
"We played a good team, another NCAA Tournament team from last year that had sights set on returning," said Burton.
The Bears added a second goal at the 76:13 mark with Grace O'Keefe feeding a pass to Julia Kristensen.
SIUE returns to Korte Stadium Sunday for 1 p.m. contest against Milwaukee.
"We have lot of areas we are very inexperienced, and it's a work in progress," added Burton.
Photo credit/Melissa Diekema
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