Box Score

BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men's soccer team claimed the 2013 ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic title with a dramatic, 5-4, win over Eastern Illinois Sunday afternoon at Arad McCutchan Stadium.  The Purple Aces scored a pair of goals in the final three minutes of the match, including the game-winner by sophomore Faik Hajderovic with just 11 seconds remaining.
 
In a contest that featured nine goals, 35 shots and four yellow cards, Evansville (5-2-1) was able to up its winning  streak to four games on Hajderovic's late-game heroics.  In addition to his game-winner, the sophomore midfielder also assisted on a pair of other Aces' tallies to finish the match with four points and earn Offensive Player of the Tournament honors.  Sophomore Mark Anthony Gonzalez, along with juniors Dylan Terry, Luis Romero and Joel Craig combined for Evansville's other four goals.
 
Gonzalez gave the Aces an early 1-0 lead at the 7:39 mark by firing a shot into the upper, right corner of the net off of a failed clearance by the Eastern Illinois (0-5-1) defense.
 
However, UE's lead would be short lived, as the Panthers responded quickly, scoring a pair of goals over the next five minutes to grab a 2-1 advantage.  Garet Christianson pulled EIU level at 1-1, when he headed in a free kick service from Tayron Martin in the ninth minute, and Jake Brillhart put Eastern Illinois in front in the 13th minute by sending in a shot from 11 yards out inside the far post.
 
Evansville fought back and was able to tie the game at 2-2 on Terry's goal in the 24th minute.  Eastern Illinois goalkeeper Ben Feltes was able to make a great save on an initial shot by Gonzalez, but was unable to control the rebound and Terry was there to put the ball in the back of the net with a diving header.
 
The Panthers regained their lead with yet another first-half goal, as Nick Smith beat Aces' goalkeeper Eric Teppen in the 31st minute with a driving shot from 25 yards out into the upper, left corner of the frame. 
 
UE was able to get off 10 shots to EIU's six in the first half, but Eastern Illinois entered the locker room with a 3-2 lead.
 
Evansville once again answered early in the second half, as Romero leveled the score at 3-3 with a goal in the 50th minute.  After earning a corner kick, Hajderovic played a short pass to Romero from the corner kick flag, before Romero sent in a low, driving shot from just outside the box that deflected off of an EIU defender and into the back of the net.
 
It took over 35 minutes for the next goal to be recorded in the high-scoring affair, as Eastern Illinois once again regained the lead on a Brillhart goal, his second of the match, in the 86th minute.  Christianson set up the scoring chance by dribbling down the endline to the right post, before sending a shot volley across the frame to Brillhart, who beat Teppen to the back post with a quick shot.
 
The Aces answered once more in the 88 th minute to tie the game at 4-4 on Craig's first goal of the season.  UE once again took advantage of a rebound opportunity, as Hajderovic fired in a quick shot from outside the box that was saved, but not controlled by Feltes.  Craig was able to collect the rebound and send in a shot from the right side of the box inside the near post for the equalizer.
 
With time winding down in regulation, Evansville was able to create a final scoring chance for Hajderovic, who made the most of the chance with the game-winner from 18 yards out.  After dribbling around a pair of Eastern Illinois defenders, the St. Louis native fired a left-footed shot into the upper, left corner of the net to give the Aces a 5-4 win.
 
Evansville outshot the Panthers, 25-10, and held a narrow, 5-4, corner kick advantage.
 
Gonzalez  and Hajderovic led all players with four shots each and were two of four Aces to put three shots on frame.  Teppen earned the win between the posts by making four saves in his 66:15 in net.  Freshman Erik Hagan stared in goal for UE, making one save in 23:45.
 
Brillhart led Eastern Illinois offensively with three shots, putting all three on goal, while Feltes finished the match with a valiant effort in goal, making 11 saves.
 
Following the victory, four Evansville players were named to the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team, as Hajderovic was joined by Gonzalez, Romero and freshman Landon Souder, who was named the Defensive Player of the Tournament.
 
The Aces will continued their six-match homestand Tuesday, Oct. 1, when they host in-state rival Butler at 7 p.m.
 
ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team
Evansville (2-0-0):  Faik Hajderovic (Off. MVP), Landon Souder (Def. MVP), Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Luis Romero
Green Bay (1-0-1):  Sam Krenzien, Lawrence Talery, Tauren Greenidge
Eastern Illinois (0-1-1):  Garet Christianson, Jake Plant
NJIT (0-2-0):  Sven Beverst, Jimmy Myers