Boxscore
The scoring came quickly Sunday for the University of Evansville soccer team, and with it eventually came UE's second consecutive ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic title.
Five first half goals carried the Aces to a 5-3 victory over Stony Brook University, giving 5-2-0 Evansville its fourth consecutive victory, its second tournament title in as many weeks, and its second consecutive ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic championship. It was the school's seventh championship in the 22-year history of the event.
Eastern Illinois (1-0-1) was the tourney runnerup. IUPUI (0-1-1) finished third and Stony Brook (0-2) was fourth. EIU and IUPUI tied 1-1 in Sunday's first match.
The all-ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic Team:
Evansville: Mike Luttrull (Offensive MVP), Justin Sass, Dan Gibson, Richard Menjivar
Eastern Illinois: Kyle Zumski (Defensive MVP), Sean Molony, Kyle Bullock
IUPUI: Tyler Keever, Michael Wignot
Stony Brook: Leonardo Fernandes, Berian Gobeil Cruz
Sophomore defender Justin Sass began the scoring at 11:35 with his first collegiate goal when he headed in Tom Irvin's long throw-in. Eight minutes later, Dan Gibson threaded a perfect pass between two defenders to Mike Luttrull, who race unopposed for 20 yards, then took a quick step around Stony Brook goalkeeper Stefan Manz and scored his fourth goal of the year into an open net.
Gibson scored his first of the season on a 12-yard blast at 24:37 when Robby Lynch and Tyler Crawford tied together quick passes to find Gibson open on the right side. After Stony Brook's Tom Butler scored on a penalty kick at 28:21 following a hand ball in the penalty box, Evansville came back with two more first half scores. Lynch chipped in Blake Schneider's pass at 38:57 after UE had been awarded a free kick just six yards outside the goal mouth. Then in the final 90 seconds of the first half, Tad Kreamalmeyer scored his third goal of the season after being set up by assists from Schneider and Lynch.
Stony Brook's Leonard Fernandes scored at 61:36 and 65:25 to cut the margin to 5-3, but the Aces shut the door after that to preserve the victory and wrap up their second straight ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic title.
Evansville finished with 12 shots, eight on goal. The 1-5-1 Seawolves got off nine shots, with five on goal. Phil Boerger played the first half in goal for UE, allowing one goal. Freshman Robert Randant played the final 45 minutes. Both keepers made one save.
The Aces go after their fifth consecutive victory Friday when they close out this three-match homestand against Western Illinois in the final non-conference game before starting a stretch of eight consecutive Missouri Valley Conference contests.
