Eureka Blanks Blackburn 3-0, Improves to 2-2

CARLINVILLE, Ill. – For the first time since 2015, the Eureka women's soccer team is 2-2 through four matches.

The Red Devils took down Blackburn 3-0 in their St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener on the road on Wednesday.

It marked the first time the team has won its first SLIAC matchup of the season since 2007 when the Red Devils bested Blackburn 3-1 in a road match, and its first back-to-back wins since Sept. 6, 2015.

It was also the Red Devils' third straight win over the Beavers after getting the season sweep last spring.

On Wednesday, three Red Devils found the back of the net, two of whom recorded their first-ever collegiate goal.

First, Lindsey Johnston (Evansville, Ind./Harrison) put away her second goal of the season less than seven and a half minutes into the match. She buried one from the top of the right side of the 18 after Hope Binder (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone) set her up with a pass to the middle for her second assist of the season.

That was the Red Devils' only goal from 14 shots in the first half. Midway through the second, Olivia Falls (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) punched in the first goal of her career, celebrating with a dance in the box and putting the Red Devils up 2-0 in the 61st minute. Christine Mepham (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) had the assist.

Less than four minutes later, senior defender Emma Harris (Streator, Ill./Streator) scored her first career goal off a deep chip from 40 yards out that went off the keeper's hands.

That ended up being the last goal of the match. Eureka outshot Blackburn 30-2 on the day, tallying exactly 30 shots for the second match in a row.

Eureka will look to stretch their two-game win streak to three on Saturday at Principia (0-1-1). Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.