Box Score BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men's soccer team got a goal from sophomore Mark Anthony Gonzalez in the 67th minute and held off a late surge from visiting NJIT to come away with a 2-1 victory Friday night at Arad McCutchan Stadium on the opening night of the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic.
 
Evansville (4-2-1) picked up its third-straight win on Gonzalez's third-consecutive game-winner, as the sophomore forward also provided game-deciding goals last weekend against Saint Louis and Georgia St.  Junior Patrick Hodges netted the first goal for the Purple Aces in the 52nd minute for his first tally of the season.
 
"We were very fortunate to get a result tonight against a very stingy NJIT team," head coach Mike Jacobs said.  "They have not conceded many goals this season, and after battling them for 90 minutes, I can see why.  I really like Coach Orellana and the way his team plays and I know that they are going to have a lot of success along the way this season."
 
UE and NJIT (2-4-1) both attempted eight shots in an evenly played first half, but neither side managed to manufacture a goal.  Junior goalkeeper Eric Teppen turned away three shots in the opening 45 minutes, while his counterpart David Tuchinsky also made a trio of first-half saves for the Highlanders.
 
Hodges broke the stalemate early in the second half by heading in a cross from freshman Jared Robinson at the 51:46.  Robinson created space by dribbling into the box, before sending in a cross to the back post, where Hodges was able to head the ball in the back of the net from five yards out.
 
Less than eight minutes later, NJIT tied the game at 1-1 on a goal by Sven Beverst.  Marko Drljic created the chance with a burst of speed up the middle of the field and played the ball off to Beverst on the left wing, who beat Teppen with a shot inside the far post from 12 yards.
 
The Aces regained the lead at 2-1 on Gonzalez's goal, as he was able to deflect in a cross that was sent in by junior Dylan Terry.  Terry's service caromed off of Tuchinsky, before deflecting off of Gonzalez and into the back of the net.
 
The Highlanders pushed forward and applied pressure over the final 25 minutes in search of their second equalizer, but Teppen and the Evansville defense stood firm and preserved the win.
 
"I didn't think we were at our best tonight, and we were not as sharp as we have been on either side of the ball," Jacobs said.  "I do think Patrick Hodges and Kevin Schafer did a good job marshaling our back line, and led our team to an overall gritty performance.  I do think that good teams grind out results like tonight, and we hope we have the makings of becoming a good team."

Sophomore Faik Hajderovic attempted a game-high six shots for the Aces, while Gonzalez, Terry and junior Charlie Macias each fired three shots to bolster the UE attack.  In goal, Teppen finished the night with four saves.
 
Beverst led NJIT with four shots, putting two on goal.  Drljic and Philipp Hannemann added three shots apiece for the Highlanders.
 
Evansville will look to claim the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic title on Sunday afternoon, when it takes on Eastern Illinois at 2:30 p.m.  The Aces can win the title outright with a win over the Panthers, as Green Bay played EIU to a 4-4 tie prior to the Evansville's victory over NJIT.