EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Evansville freshman Devin Shepherd (Denver, Colo./Arapahoe) netted his first career brace on Wednesday night, scoring in the 10^th and 75^th minutes to help the Aces earn a 3-3 draw against Xavier at Arad McCutchan Stadium. 

Xavier jumped out to an early lead, as an Evansville foul in the box in the fourth minute led to a penalty kick that was buried by Cooper Forcellini. However, the Aces were quick to respond in the 10^th minute, when a cross from Will Bencic (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) deflected off a Musketeers defender and found Shepherd, who put a shot in the back of the net to equalize. 

The score remained knotted at one heading into the halftime break, but the Musketeers attack was quick to strike in the opening minutes of the second half. Despite a save by Aces keeper Michal Mroz (Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove) in the 46^th minute, the Musketeers pulled ahead two minutes later when Porcellini scored his second goal of the night. 

The scoring subdued for the next 20-plus minutes of action, with both sides putting up two shots to no avail. However, the Aces struck in the 70^th minute, when Shepherd found fellow freshman Andres Escudero (San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain/IES Joan Miro) on a through ball. Escudero put his first shot off the post, but was there for a second chance opportunity on an open net to score his first career goal and even things at two. 

Once again, Xavier found a way to regain the lead, as George Waites scored just over a minute later to put the Musketeers ahead 3-2.

With his team again looking for the equalizer, Shepherd rose to the occasion in the 75^th minute. Álvaro Timón (Toldeo, Spain/Valencia International University) found Shepherd at the top right side of the box, who unleashed a strike over the outstretched arms of the Xavier keeper and into the back the of net for his second goal of the net, tying the score at three. The brace was the first by an Evansville freshman since MVC Freshman of the Year Nacho Diaz Barragan in 2022.

Mroz helped UE hold on for the draw, coming up with a clutch save in the 89^th minute on a Xavier scoring chance. 

"I think any time you go down three times in a match and respond, you kind of have to take the result" said Head Coach Robbe Tarver. "I think we put a lot into the game, I think Xaiver put us in some tough spots, especially on the ball with their movement and connected a lot of passes. There were some good moments and bad moments, but ultimately, we can't hang our heads about a 3-3 result."
 
"I'm just proud of how much we put into the game. We can live with the results if we put in the effort, and I think we did tonight." 

Xavier out-shot Evansville 18-7 overall, including a 7-4 edge in shots on goal. Mroz made a season-high four saves in goal for UE. 

With the tie, Evansville moves to 0-2-4 on the season. The Aces will be back in action on Saturday, traveling across town to take on USI in the Mayor's Cup. Kick-off is set for 7 PM.