Box Score EVANSVILLE, Ind. - In a crucial Missouri Valley Conference match, the University of Evansville men's soccer team earned a 1-1 draw with Valparaiso on Saturday evening at Arad McCutchan Stadium on Senior Day.
"It's been kind of the story for the season. We created a lot of chances and had some opportunities and I thought we played some good soccer," said Aces men's soccer head coach Marshall Ray. "It's a tough game to play in. I think Valpo were battling for points; we were battling for points. We still had a chance to finish second if we could win two, but also we're still trying to make sure that we make it to the tournament, so it adds a little extra heat to the games and that's what you saw tonight. When teams are battling not to get eliminated, you're fighting and scrapping for anything you can get and I think tonight that was probably what the game was about. We had our chances. We should have finished a few more, but proud of the guys again to hold on to a tie."
After an early Valpo shot on-goal, Evansville countered with five shots over the next 11 minutes, including two on goal that forced saves from the Crusaders. Valpo generated another chance as Demar Rose had his try stopped by the Aces' Frederik Reimer in the 39th minute. As the first half rolled to a close, the Aces found the match-opening goal in the 43rd minute as freshman Logan Muck played a ball to junior Jesse Stafford-Lacey in the box that Stafford-Lacey dribbled and scored past the keeper at a sharp angle. Just before the break, Valpo had another opportunity as a header bounced in the box and delfected off the cross bar and out to keep the Aces' lead at 1-0 at the half.
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Box Score (PDF)
In the second half, Rose tallied another chance in the 55th minute, but Reimer made the save for Evansville. Two more opportunities arose for the Crusaders in the 65th and 66th minutes as Reimer continued to keep Valpo off the scoreboard. After a few chances for the Aces did not find the back of the net, a Crusader was fouled in a favorable position for a free kick. Off the free kick, the ball was slid to the top of the box to Demar Rose, who let go of a shot from 25 yard out that curled into the upper right corner, tying the match at a goal apiece in the 84th minute. Evansville manufactured another opportunity in the 87th minute as junior Ben Weber saw his shot saved as the match moved into the first overtime period.
The first overtime featured just one shot in the 97th minute with Mason Marcey's shot for Valpo saved by Reimer. In the final minute of the first overtime, a Crusader was presented a red card, leaving Valpo down a man heading into the second overtime.
Less than three minutes into the second overtime, an Ace received red card after a collision at the top of the box that evened the sides to 10 men each. Coming into the match as a substitute, senior Greg Niven stepped up and made a critical save for Evansville as Michael Marchionna's bicycle kick was stopped by Niven in the 104th minute. Valparaiso found itself down a man again in the 104th minute as a Crusader was shown his second yellow card of the evening, bringing the Crusaders down to nine players. Over the final five minutes of the match, the Aces had a pair of opportunities, including ahead from freshman Mathias Nors, but Nors' attempt was saved as the Aces and Crusaders played to a 1-1 draw.
Four Aces recorded three shots on-goal with Stafford-Lacey leading Evansville with his 43rd-minute goal. Between the posts, Reimer played nearly 103 minutes, making five saves and allowing a goal with Niven playing seven minutes in relief with one save.
Evansville next travels to Bradley for its regular season finale in Peoria, Ill. at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.
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