The Austin Peay State University women's soccer team opened its 2026 season with a road trip to Edwardsville, Illinois, where it will meet SIU Edwardsville at Korte Stadium on Thursday. The match marks the Lady Govs' first away game of the campaign and sets the stage for a series that has seesawed over the years.
A 1-0 loss to Tennessee Tech left Austin Peay at 0-2-0, but the defeat revealed early offensive contributions from junior defender Lindsey Arnold and midfielder Kiley Reese, who helped generate chances despite the setback.
In the 103rd minute of that game, junior midfielder Ashley Whitaker scored the lone goal for the Lady Govs, the only starter to find the net and the first point of the season, offering a glimmer of optimism as the team looks to reverse its early record.
SIUE, for its part, began the season with a win over Alabama A&M and a 2-2 draw against Valparaiso, scoring four goals in the process. Junior midfielder Carson Bohnenstiehl has already netted in both of those matches, while sophomore midfielder Claire Nieroda leads the team with five points, including a goal and two assists.
August 20: A Lucky Date
Thursday will mark the fourth time Austin Peay has played on August 20, a date on which the Lady Govs have never lost, improving to 3-0-0 on that day. The match also continues a series trend in which SIUE holds a 4-2-1 edge in Edwardsville, having won the last two meetings.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, with real-time statistics accessible via the Let’s Go Peay app, giving supporters a digital window into the action.