Box Score


BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men's soccer team knocked off its second nationally-ranked of the season Tuesday night, as the Purple Aces scored three unanswered goals in a 3-1 win over visiting No. 16 Butler at Arad McCutchan Stadium.
 
After Butler (7-2-1) scored the first goal of the match in the 28th minute, Evansville (6-2-1) answered with tallies in the 41st, 72nd and 79th minutes to post the victory.  Freshman Nate Opperman scored the equalizer for the Aces, before sophomore Mark Anthony Gonzalez netted the eventual game-winner and junior Dylan Terry added the insurance goal.
 
Opportunities were few and far between for both sides in the opening 20 minutes, with Evansville getting its first real opportunity with 19:58 left in the opening half, when Gonzalez sent in a low, driving shot for 15 yards out that was stopped by Butler goalkeeper Jon Dawson.
 
The Bulldogs got on the board just over seven minutes later by taking advantage of their lone corner kick in the opening stanza.  Jesse Miser headed home a corner kick service from Jeff Adkins from five yards out at the 27:29 mark.
 
UE evened the score on Opperman's goal with under five minutes remaining in the half to tie the score at 1-1 at the break.  Junior Felipe Cortez set up the opportunity with a short pass to fellow junior Joel Craig, who sent the pass to the center of the box, where Opperman scored from 12 yards out.
 
Evansville carried the momentum into the second half, as the Aces controlled possession over the final 45 minutes.
 
Gonzalez put the Aces in front 2-1 on a counter in the 72nd minute, after receiving a pair of passes from sophomore Faik Hajderovic and Terry.  Hajderovic chipped the ball over the Butler back line to Terry, who was making a run up the middle of the field.  Terry then headed the ball past the Bulldog goalkeeper to Gonzalez, who was there to finish the chance into the open net.
 
Terry got his name on the score sheet for the second time under seven minutes later, when he was able to score his third goal off the year after a rebound on Hajderovic's initial shot.  Hajderovic sent in a shot from 18 yards that was stopped but not controlled by Dawson and Terry was there to clean up the rebound, scoring from eight yards.
 
BU had an opportunity to pull within a goal in the 80th minute, when Evansville goalkeeper Eric Teppen took down a Bulldog inside the box and a penalty kick was awarded.  However, Teppen made up for the foul by stopping Zach Steinberger's PK attempt and keeping the score 3-1 in favor of the Aces.
 
UE was able to hold off Butler for the final 10 minutes to secure its fifth-consecutive win.
 
For the match, Evansville outshot Butler, 19-13, and each team put nine shots on goal. 
 
Gonzalez and Hajderovic the Aces offensively with four shots each, while three more UE players added two shots each.  In goal, Teppen recorded eight saves, stopping four shots in each half.
 
UE will open Missouri Valley Conference play and wrap up its six-match home stand, when it hosts Drake Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.