EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Southern Indiana scored a pair of goals roughly four minutes apart in the second half as the Screaming Eagles handed the Bellarmine University women's soccer team a 2-0 loss Sunday in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

The visiting Knights (4-3-1, 2-1-1 GLVC) were shut out for the first time this season. Bellarmine and USI (3-3-2, 2-1-1) had played to three straight scoreless ties — two in the regular season and one last year in the GLVC Tournament — before the Screaming Eagles finally ended the goal futility between the rivals in the second half.

"That's a disappointing result, but it isn't that surprising," Bellarmine Coach Chris Tinius said. "It sticks with the theme we've had all year of being up and down with our commitment. As a coach, I made it worse today. I put some kids in some situations where they've struggled some in the past to try and maybe give one more look before we settle in moving forward. Obviously, some of that didn't work out and that's on me."

Another drought definitely didn't follow USI's initial goal. In the 54th minute, Madeline Weston got an open shot off a deflection following a corner kick and sank the attempt for a 1-0 lead. A little over four minutes later, USI made it 2-0 when Lyndsee Monac finished a cross from Katlyn Andres.

Those first 13 minutes of the second half would haunt Bellarmine, which otherwise had no shortage of possession and chances. The Knights finished with a 13-5 advantage in shots, including 8-3 on goal, and piled up 11 corner kicks, but they didn't create many tense moments in the attack until facing the steep deficit.

Four of USI's five shots came within that 13-minute time period after halftime. Bellarmine didn't allow a shot after the second goal and held the Screaming Eagles to just one attempt in the first half.

"Congrats to USI. They played harder and more purposeful soccer than us over the entirety of the game," Tinius said. "Similar to last Sunday (against Marvyille in a 1-1 tie), I felt once we went down and got a fire under us we played some of the best soccer we've played all year. We weren't super clean finishing obviously, but our build-ups were very good the last 20 minutes or so. Unfortunately, for the vast majority of the game, we didn't play with that same fire or purpose so having the ball didn't matter."

After four road games to begin GLVC play, Bellarmine will host Quincy on Friday and Illinois Springfield next Sunday.

"In the big picture, we have to stay positive about where we are," Tinius said. "We said we were breaking things into segments and wanted to come back from this four-game trip with our head above water. We've done that at 2-1-1."

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