Red Devils Battle Hard but Fall 2-0 at IU Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Despite strong performances from their goalkeepers, the Eureka women's soccer team fell 2-0 on the road to IU Columbus on Sunday afternoon. After a scoreless first half, the Crimson Pride scored twice in the second to pull away from the Red Devils.

The match opened with immediate pressure from IU Columbus, but goalkeeper Naitzy Garcia (Mendota, Ill./Mendota) kept Eureka in the game with a series of big saves. Garcia denied Madison Merritt in the opening minute and racked up a season-high 13 saves in the first half, holding the hosts scoreless despite 34 shots. On the counterattack, the Red Devils generated chances from Brianna Harris (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) and Addison Bryers (Flushing, Mich./Flushing) but were unable to find the back of the net. The teams went into halftime locked at 0-0.

Eureka opened the second half with a new face in goal, as Hannah Jachimiak (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley) took over and immediately made an impact with a stop just 34 seconds in. Jachimiak tallied 10 saves in the second half alone, but IU Columbus finally broke through in the 55th minute on a goal from Lily Campbell, assisted by Gaby Esparza. The Red Devils looked to answer with efforts from Daphne Collette (Murray, Utah/Murray) and Brianna Murphy (Grand Blanc, Mich./Powers Catholic), but both shots were handled by the Crimson Pride keeper. IU Columbus added an insurance goal in the 86th minute, when Madelynn Thangam converted to make it 2-0.

Collette and Harris led the Red Devils offensively with two shots on goal each. Garcia and Jachimiak combined for 23 total saves in net for Eureka.

Up Next

The Red Devils return home on Wednesday to take on Knox at 5 p.m. at McKinzie Field.