- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,270,070
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — With former three-year starter, Anna Markland forgoing her final year of eligibility the University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team is holding an open competition for the starting goal keeper spot.
Over the past seven years, the Screaming Eagles have had two mainstays in the net and now have to choose a new player after Markland left the program to join IU’s medical school.
The competition comes down to three players including sophomore Merrick Schwalbach, who has appeared in three games while making two starts last year. Redshirt sophomore Aleia Lansing, a former UAB transfer who spent last season sidelined by an injury. And finally sophomore Brooke Shafer, who is a converted forward that played on the offense last year. The three combined only have two starts and three overall appearances in the net at the college level and it all comes from Schwalbach.
“To where I am now, my confidence has grown so much,” she said. “Obviously last year since I was a freshman it’s been a little bit down, but like since then it’s grown tremendously in the game. Obviously all the training, and the background I’ve had, and even coming into this spring having a great summer it made my confidence go up so much.”
When asked what he wanted to see from his players to claim the starting spot, head coach Eric Schoenstein said confidence.
He said, “They have to just believe in themselves and just be confident with their decisions. If you make a mistake, no big deal just get the next one. Right? Because like the thing about it’s all about the positivity within the team. It’s all about those keepers stepping up and you know making the big save or if you make a mistake you know memory of a goldfish and we just move on.”
Schwalbach has earned the first shot at the position as Coach Schoenstein said she’ll start in their first exhibition against Bellarmine on Wednesday, August 5th at 7 p.m. at Strassweg Field.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Continue reading...
