MOREHEAD | The Morehead State soccer team continued a pair of streaks as it defeated visiting Detroit Mercy 1-0 on Sunday at the MSU Soccer Field.
The win was the Eagles' second straight and improved their overall record to 2-1-1, which is the best opening mark since going 2-0-2 to begin the 2014 campaign. The squad also raised its school-record home unbeaten streak to nine. The previous record was six, which was set in 2010. The past four games of the current streak have all been wins and the Blue and Gold has outscored its opponents 6-1 over that time.
Watch MSU coach Paul Cox discuss the win.
Detroit Mercy (0-4-0) held a slight advantage in shots (9 to 8) and kept the ball in the Morehead State defensive zone for 51 percent of the game. The Eagles did have an edge in possession percentage (53 to 47).
Neither team scored in the first half as the Eagles held a 3-2 lead in shots. However, a little more than 11 minutes into the second period, as has been the case all season, it was a newcomer who got MSU on the board.
Freshman forward
Carlie Thurmond played a long ball behind the Titans' defensive that freshman forward
Ava Peck ran onto and collected at the midfield stripe. Peck took three dribbles and beat Detroit Mercy's goalkeeper, Marisa Silver, 1v1 as she came out to challenge Peck, who then flipped the ball just over the head of a sliding Silver at 56:08.
All four of MSU's goals this season have come from newcomers. Sunday's was the first official one of Peck's career.
See Peck talk about the win and her goal.
Thurmond's assist was the first of her MSU tenure, but the third game this season she has recorded at least one point for the Eagles. Thurmond's five points are the most by a Morehead State freshman through four contests since Ashley Ritchie registered seven in 2016.
The two teams combined for seven shots on goal, with neither side mounting a serious scoring threat outside of the Peck tally.
Morehead State took five corner kicks to UDM's two. The hosts had 16 fouls to the visitors' five, and both teams were flagged for being offside twice.
Peck and junior midfielder
Kennedy Baquero each led MSU with two shots, while Detroit Mercy also had two attempts from Abbey Lodato, Adriana Mroz and Amelia Streberger.
Eagle freshman goalkeeper
Claire Cress recorded her first career shutout, making three saves in the process. Silver went the distance in the Titans' net and also collected three saves.
It was the second victory in the series for Morehead State, which also won last year's meeting in Detroit 5-2.
MSU next plays Bellarmine on Thursday at 7 p.m., then takes a week off before facing Wright State on the road the following Thursday at 7 p.m. The Eagles return home to face Northern Kentucky on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
