Box Score Box Score (Printable)Photo GalleryEVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men's soccer team put on an offensive display Friday night in its home opener at Arad McCutchan Stadium, as the Purple Aces found the back of the net five times and limited visiting Belmont to just four shots in a 5-0 victory.
Evansville (1-1-1) took an early lead, after senior
Charlie Macias scored in the seventh minute, finishing a pass from fellow senior
Nick Schroeder. The Aces set up the opportunity with a long service played deep into the Belmont (0-3-0) defense, where Schroeder collected a loose ball inside the box and played a short pass back to Macias, who finished the chance with a hard shot inside the near post.
Macias struck again in the 33rd minute, taking advantage of a miscue by Bruin goalkeeper Grayson Rector. After collecting a bounding ball inside the box, Rector attempted to throw the ball to a nearby defender, but had it slip out of his hand and land at the feet of an unmarked Macias. Macias then beat Rector with a low shot inside the back post to put UE in front 2-0.
Perhaps the most impressive goal of the night came in the 39th minute, when preseason All-American
Faik Hajderovic delivered an immaculate shot from over 25 yards out. The junior forward dribbled up the right side of the field, before planting his right foot and floating a left-footed shot into the upper, left corner of the goal for Evansville's third goal of the half.
The Aces continued to apply pressure in the second half and junior
Mark Anthony Gonzalez scored for the second time this season in the 62nd minute. Hajderovic started the scoring chance with a long deliverance to senior
Kevin Schafer, who headed the ball on to Gonzalez for the finishing strike.
Less than two minutes later, Schafer got into the scoring column, after making a run and finishing a pass from Hajderovic from six yards out.
In goal, senior goalkeeper
Eric Teppen was tested by only two shots, making a pair of saves in 74 minutes of action. Freshman
Matthew Keller came on for the final 16 minutes to complete the shutout and did not face a shot.
Hajderovic led all players with four shots, putting three on goal and Macias finished the night with three shots, including a pair of shots on goal.
Four separate players combined for Belmont's four shots. Adriano Balani and Joao Fonseca combined for the Bruins only two shots on goal, as UE outshot Belmont, 17-4.
Evansville will conclude the weekend Sunday at 4 p.m., when it hosts Lipscomb at McCutchan Stadium.
