Box Score BOX SCORE

PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Evansville men's soccer team opened its regular season with a 0-0 draw against Massachusetts on a hot and steamy Friday afternoon at The Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic in Peoria, Ill.
 
"I have a lot of respect for Sam Koch (UMass head coach) and his staff, and his kids play with a 'bend but don't break' attitude," head coach Mike Jacobs said.  "We absolutely battered them with shots, but their goalkeeper stood on his head and that is a credit to him and the rest of their team."   
 
Evansville (0-0-1) controlled the pace in the first half, getting off 13 shots to Massachusetts' (0-0-1) three, and putting eight of them on goal.  Sophomore Nate Opperman got off five shots and put three on frame in the opening stanza, while fellow sophomore Faik Hajderovic attempted three shots.
 
Minutemen goalkeeper Nick Ruiz collected seven saves in the opening 45 minutes and UMass was credited with a team save on a header by junior Joel Craig in the ninth minute.  The UE defense held strong in the half and did not allow a shot on goal, as the teams headed the locker room knotted at 0-0.
 
The second half saw each team take five shots apiece, but neither side was able to find the back of the net.  Evansville put three shots on goal in the second half, while Massachusetts fire two, both of which were saved by Aces goalkeeper Eric Teppen.
 
The Minutemen combined to outshoot UE, 5-2, in the pair of overtime periods and tallied the lone shot on goal, which came off the foot of Matt Bolduc in the 105th minute.
 
"I know our guys will feel a little hard done by not coming away with a win, but the character and mental toughness of this team is special," Jacobs said.  "To play 110 minutes in 100-plus degree temperatures was as unique a performance that I've seen from a team in some time.  I'm very proud of this group and know that we'll recover, as we prepare for a very good New Hampshire team on Sunday."
 
Opperman led Evansville offensively with seven shots and four shots on goal.  Charlie Macias added four shots, putting two on frame, while Hajderovic and junior Patrick Hodges each attempted three shots.
 
In goal, Teppen earned the clean sheet by making three saves.
 
The Aces will wrap up play at The Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m., when they take on New Hampshire.