Even if it was just an exhibition game, the WKU soccer team started its 2011 season off on the right foot with a 1-0 win on the road against Evansville.

Senior midfielder Lindsay Williams scored the only goal of the game 13 minutes into the first half to give the Lady Toppers the win.

“The game started out pretty even,” Head Coach Jason Neidell said. “It took us about 10-15 minutes to get our feet under us, but we controlled the game for awhile from there.”

The Lady Toppers outshot the Purple Aces 11-5 on the evening, registering eight shots on goal.

Evansville had the first chances to score, getting off two shots within the first eight minutes of the game, but Williams’ goal put all the momentum back in WKU’s favor.

Williams got the ball 30 yards from goal, took one touch, and got it past Evansville goalkeeper Chaviel Henderson to give WKU what eventually proved to be the game-winning goal.

WKU nearly added to its lead in the second half, earning a pair of corner kick opportunities. Freshman forward Leslie Chinn and senior forward Mallory Outerbridge combined for three shots on goal within a span of 5:44 late in the half but couldn’t find the net.

The Lady Toppers held the Purple Aces to just one shot on goal, which came with 21:10 to go in the game and was stopped by senior goalkeeper Libby Stout.

“We controlled the second half early on,” Neidell said. “Evansville has some good players and did some things to show us what we need to improve on.”

The Lady Toppers will host a Red/White scrimmage at 6 p.m. Sunday at the WKU Soccer Complex.

WKU opens its 2011 regular season at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at the WKU Soccer Complex against Western Carolina.