EVANSVILLE – For the first time in nearly 20 years, the University of Evansville men's soccer team is 2-0-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play, but it wouldn't come easy for the Purple Aces as a 103
rd-minute Kyle Brown match-winner handed the team a 1-0 double-overtime victory over Central Arkansas at Arad McCutchan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
"It was a battle out there today. It had its ebbs and flows, and it could have gone either way," UE head coach Marshall Ray said. "I think this is just a testament to the guys and the strength that they have as a group. We were fortunate to walk out of there with a win, and I'm proud of the guys for sure. The players all had trust in themselves and the belief that they could come away with the win. I told them before the second overtime to leave it all out there on the field, and I think our guys do that game-in and game-out."
With the win, UE moved to 5-3-1 overall, and the team is now 2-0-0 in league play for the first time since 1997.
"It's good," Ray said of his team's conference start. "Everything's a battle in the Valley. It doesn't matter which team you're playing or what the records are, and now we have to move forward. The only thing that matters now is the next 90 minutes."
UCA, which was playing in its third consecutive overtime contest, dropped to 2-4-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the MVC.
In a game that featured spells of possession for each team, the Aces spent large chunks of the second half, and the majority of each overtime in the ascendency, ultimately out-shooting the visitors from Conway, Ark., 16-9. Ian McGrath, who is tied for the team lead with four goals, looked the most likely to find the back of the net, coming up just short inside of the final minute of regulation as well as the final minute of the first overtime.
Despite the imposing presence of McGrath, it would be perhaps the unlikeliest of heroes that ultimately delivered. After a ball was cleared to midfield, Trevor Baum booted it back into the 18-yard-box, and it would get past UCA goalkeeper Marc Olsen only to land with Kyle Brown, who had played just four minutes in the contest. Brown, a sophomore defender out of Fenton, Mo., made the most of his lone opportunity, finishing inside the far post before being mobbed by his teammates near midfield.
"I actually had a little bit of doubt when I saw the way some of the guys were chasing it, and I didn't know if I got enough power on it," Brown said of his goal. "Coach told me to get warmed up towards the beginning of the first overtime, and I knew I would have a chance to come in and try to leave it all out there for the guys."
The goal represented the first of Brown's career.
UE will take a brief break from MVC play on Wednesday when the team plays host to Marshall before welcoming in Missouri State next Saturday.
NOTES: UE has scored at least one goal in all nine matches that the team has played this season. The last time the Aces found the back of the net in the first nine games of the year was 2007 … UE has started off 2-0-0 in league play two previous times in school history, 1995 and 1997 … The last time UE had four clean sheets in a season was 2012 … The last time the Aces did it inside the first nine matches of the year was 2008 … UE is now 7-1-1 all-time against UCA with eight shutouts … Saturday's match marked the 950
th in school history, which is the best total in league history.
=== #AcesAces ===
