EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Not a downpour, lightning delay, nor an early deficit could stave off the University of Evansville men's soccer team as the Aces captured a 3-2 win in overtime over Belmont on Tuesday night at Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville, Ind..
"We've been strong in overtimes that we've played this year. We've created a lot of chances, a lot of corners and its nice to get the result tonight," said Aces head coach Marshall Ray. "Our guys can battle and fight and compete, there's no question about it. To respond the way we did tonight, to go down 1-0 and come back and tie it up and then go down 2-1 and tie it up and win it in overtime says a lot about the character of our team."
Redshirt-sophomore defender Hunter DeWeese and junior midfielder Caleb Williams each scored for the Aces while senior midfielder Ian Mcgrath led the way with nine shots in the win. Sophomore goalkeeper Frederik Reimer earned his second win of the season between the posts. For the Bruins, Creaghan Diekema and Adam Voloder both tallied goals.
Within the first minute, Belmont jumped ahead 1-0 just 44 seconds in as Diekema received a pass from Jaime Giraldo Angel and put it into the back of the net.
Evansville tied the match at one in the 16th minute as junior Brian Hughes passed the ball to DeWeese who quickly fired a shot from 25 yards out that flashed past the keeper. Just eight minutes later, the Bruins went back in front as Diekema clipped the ball into the box where Voloder then finished it to push Belmont ahead, 2-1.
The weather did not cooperate as the match was stopped in the 59th minute for a weather delay which lasted 50 minutes and forced both teams back into their locker rooms.
In the 76th minute, Evansville found the equalizer as senior midfielder Arlick Ntabana crossed the ball across the face of the goal where Williams slipped it past the Bruins' keeper. To close the second half, Belmont had a pair of chances in the box, but Evansville held off the Bruins.
Six minutes into the first overtime, sophomore midfielder Jesse Stafford-Lacey received the ball at his feet just a few steps into the 18 yard box. Lacey looped in a shot that was deflected off the leg of a Bruin defender and into the back of the net for an own goal giving the Aces a 3-2 overtime victory.
In the match, Evansville out-shot the Bruins, 20-13, while Belmont held a 4-3 advantage on corner kicks.
"We need to build off this. We need some momentum, so it was good to get that tonight. We've got some things to work on, but we're looking forward to getting back on the field for homecoming on Saturday," said Ray. "Loyola is going to be a good opponent and we have to do the same thing on Saturday night that we did tonight. Just find a way to win, that's what's important."
The Aces stay at home for Homecoming on Saturday evening as Evansville takes on the Loyola Ramblers at 5 p.m. at Arad McCutchan Stadium. Saturday's homecoming festivities will begin at 2 p.m. with food trucks and live music until 5 p.m.. The homecoming doubleheader will also feature postgame fireworks following the Aces' match with Loyola.
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