Box Score EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Facing its first of several tests of the season, the University of Evansville aced the exam with a 1-0 upset victory over No. 24 Grand Canyon on Friday evening at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

"I know we can fight. That's 13 overtime games in-a-row in three seasons that we haven't lost," said Aces men's soccer coach Marshall Ray. "They're used to them. I think going in they take that confidence and drive and thrive on it. On Ben's goal today, it was just a matter of that. The ball bobbled around, he kept battling and fighting, it fell to his feet and he put it in the back of the net. I think there's a belief in the team. I think today we got it right and we've got to continue to do that the rest of the season."

In what was an evenly contested match, both teams found early attacking opportunities. After a Lopes shot was saved by junior goalkeeper Frederik Reimer in the fourth minute, Evansville had an opportunity of its own just minutes later. Sophomore Adam Snow with the ball at his feet dribbled through the Aces' attacking third, slipping past GCU goalkeeper George Tasouris and slid the ball toward the empty net. Snow's effort came up just short as a GCU defender sprinted in to knock the ball off its course and prevent Evansville from gaining an early 1-0 lead. 

Beginning in the 34th minute, GCU had a bevy of chances, earning four corner kicks in under two minutes. On the corner kicks, the Lopes were able to record a pair of shots, putting one on-goal that was saved by Reimer. As the half came to an end, senior Trevor Baum connected with a free kick from junior Jesse Stafford-Lacey, heading the ball on frame and forcing a save from Tasouris to keep the match scoreless at the halftime break.
 

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In the opening 45 minutes, the two sides combined for 14 shots, UE with an 8-6 advantage. The second half mirrored the first period as both teams again combined for 14 shots, with GCU earning a slight 86 advantage in the second frame. Evansville's defense once again stood tall as GCU tallied four shots during a 4:15 stretch midway through the half, but the Lopes were unable to find the back of the net. With just seconds remaining in regulation, the Aces looked to prevent the match from heading to overtime as junior Ben Weber flipped a shot Tasouris' way from in front of the net, but GCU maintained the scoreless tie.

Following a timid first seven minutes of overtime from Evansville and GCU, the Lopes' Josh Drack tried a shot that missed wide in the 98th minute. Following Drack's shot, the Aces had a goal kick which Reimer booted down the field. Freshman Logan Muck rose up and won the ball, flicking it to the feet of an attacking Weber. After receiving the ball, Weber continued his run, working past his defender and placing the ball into the back of the net after it was tipped by Tasouris, earning Evansville the 1-0 upset win in overtime.

"We're playing against a top 20 team in the nation, you know we're going to be working hard the whole entire game, but that was a rough game, through and through," said Weber. "We're an overtime winning team and we came through with it."

The win was Evansville's first win over a top 25 opponent since a 3-1 victory over No. 16 Butler on Oct. 1, 2013 at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

In the match, each team finished with 15 shots, with Evansville owning an 8-5 advantage on shots on-goal. Weber led the way for UE, recording four shots, putting all four on-goal, scoring the game-winning goal. Between the posts, Reimer posted a clean sheet helping push the Aces to victory with five saves in the win.

"It feels amazing. Coming out her against such a great team and then putting up the performance that I think we've been working towards all week and really bring all we got today and then we capitalized from it," said Reimer. "ThatWe's not enough now. We have to keep working. We have another game on Tuesday, so enjoy tonight, but then tomorrow its back again, recovery session and then we start preparing for Northern Kentucky on Tuesday."

The Aces return to action at 6 p.m. on Tuesday when they travel to Highland Heights, Ky. to challenge NKU before closing the week on the road at Mercer in Macon, Ga. on September 16.