Box Score PEORIA, Ill. In its regular season finale, the University of Evansville men's soccer team jumped out to an early lead, but fell to Bradley, 2-1, on the road on Saturday afternoon in Peoria, Ill.

"It's been a tough season and these guys have had to battle through adversity and today's match was no different," said Aces head men's soccer coach Marshall Ray. "We went down a man in the 18th minute after scoring a goal, it was a great goal by Ethan Garvey off a corner kick. The guys could have folded there; they didn't, they responded and were actually a stronger team and created more chances and opportunities through the first half and into the second half. Then we were unfortunate at the end. We pushed to get a goal early and avoid some overtime looking forward to the conference tournament. I can't fault the effort and the attitude of the guys. We're looking forward to the opportunity to play in our conference tournament and everyone's records are clean and it's win and stay, lose and go home."

Evansville struck early for its goal in the 18th minute. The Aces earned a corner kick that was taken by senior Jesse Stafford-Lacey. Stafford-Lacey's set piece swung into the box and freshman Ethan Garvey connected with it, heading it into the back of the net. The goal was Garvey's first collegiate goal and the first by an Aces' defender in 2019. Just over a minute later, Evansville senior goalkeeper Frederik Reimer collided with a Braves attacker inside the box for which Reimer was shown a red card and Bradley received a penalty. Gerit Wintermeyer found the back of the net from the spot tying the match at one in the 19th minute. The score would hold throughout the remainder of the first half as the two sides went to the break tied at one.

Both sides amassed a combined 10 shots in the second 45 minutes with Bradley putting four on-goal to one for the Aces. Evansville nearly retook the lead in the 69th minute as senior Ben Weber had his attempt saved by Braves' goalkeeper Nathan Wisbey. In the final 10 minutes, Bradley found its go-ahead goal as Wintermeyer scored for a second time from a sharp angle, putting the Braves in front for good in Bradley's 2-1 win.

Evansville finished with a 9-8 advantage in shots, but the Braves our six of their shots on-goal to three for the Aces.

The Aces are the No. 6 seed in the MVC Championship and will face No. 3 seed Bradley at 4 PM on Wednesday at Loyola Soccer Park in Chicago, Ill.