Boxscore

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Senior Ryan Luke left no doubt as to the Offensive Most Valuable Player in the Nike Invitational here Sunday, but Luke and his Portland Pilots were tested by the University of Evansville Purple Aces.

Luke scored in the 23rd and 54th minutes to put Portland (#22 Soccer America, #23 College Soccer News) up 2-0, and the Pilots held off the Aces to win their own tournament, 2-1.   UE junior Tad Kreamalmeyer scored Evansville's lone goal at 69:28.  While Luke took home the Offensive MVP award, Evansville senior midfielder Robby Lynch earned the Defensive MVP award.  Portland finished the season-opening tourney with a 1-0-1 record after tying Northern Illinois 0-0 in the first round Friday.  Evansville finished as runnerup, thanks to the Aces' 2-1 win over Washington on Friday and Washington's 1-0 win over NIU on Sunday.

"We played well enough to win, but we also did some things defensively that let them in," said UE Coach Mike Jacobs after Sunday's match.  "Overall, though, it was a very encouraging weekend.  To play against this caliber of teams at an equal level, if not better, says a lot for the progress our program has made.  These are the kinds of teams we will face in post-season, if we are fortunate enough to reach that goal, and our guys were certainly up to the task.  This re-enforced the importance of playing well for 90 full minutes."

Luke scored first on a header at 23:13, then rifled a shot from just inside the top of the box past UE keeper Phil Boerger at 54:02.  Kreamaleyer put the Aces back into the match with his blast from the 18, assisted by freshman Brandon Causey, at 69:28, but Portland keeper Austin Guerrero held the Aces scoreless the rest of the way.  He made big saves in the final six minutes on shots from Lynch and Tom Irvin.  

Portland finished 15 shots, seven on goal, while Evansville took 14 shots and put six on goal.  Irvin led the way for UE with three shots on goal and five total.  Lynch and Kreamaleyer each had two shots and put one on goal.

The 1-1 Aces play their home opener Friday at McCutchan Stadium against Alabama A&M at 7:30 in the opening round of the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic.  Bradley and East Tennessee State meet at 5:00 in the evening's first match.