EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s soccer team used a relentless offensive attack on Sunday afternoon to come out victorious over the Bradley University Braves 2-1 in overtime in front of 709 fans at Black Beauty Field.

 

Tom Irvin scored the winning goal on a header 7:52 into the first overtime period. Irvin was set up on the goal, his third of the season, by Richard Menjivar and Robby Lynch. As a team, the Aces offense put up 25 shots, seven on goal, while allowing only ten Bradley shots, five on goal, in the victory.

 

Bradley got the scoring started just 8:14 into the contest on a header by Tommy Fritze off of a free kick by Rudy Garcia. The Aces would answer quickly however, scoring just over ten minutes later at the 19:51 mark in the first half.

 

Richard Menjivar took control of a loose ball on the right side of the box and shot it into the top-right corner of the goal to tie up the game, 1-1. The goal was Menjivar’s first of the season.

 

Evansville kept the pressure on the Bradley defense throughout the game, coming within inches of a goal on several occasions. In fact, two of Lynch’s four shots hit the top of the goal before being recovered by the Braves defense.

 

With the win, Evansville improves to 9-6-1 on the season, 2-2 in the MVC. Bradley falls to 6-10-1, 1-4 in conference play.

"We did everything but win it in regulation," said UE coach Mike Jacobs. "It was really a team effort. Everyone helped us today."

Bradley was the third team Evansville has beaten this season that has been nationally ranked at some time during the year. The Aces have played eight teams that have been nationally ranked at some time.

Evansville can finish as high as third in the Missouri Valley Conference standings with a win over Drake on Saturday.  Saturday's 7:00 game will be Senior Night for the Aces and the final game before the State Farm MVC Tournament, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 12 at UE's Black Beauty Field.