EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Coming off a 3-0 Mayor's Cup victory over crosstown rival USI on Saturday, the University of Evansville men's soccer team hits the road on Wednesday to take on the Dayton Flyers. Kick-off is set for 6 PM CT.
Last Time Out
Evansville secured the Mayor's Cup for the third straight season on Saturday night, taking down USI 3-0 at Strassweg Field. All three Evansville goals were scored by freshmen, as Andres Escudero (San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain IES Joan Miro) posted his first career brace and Chase Ricker (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva) scored his first collegiate goal.
Evansville's attack was active early, as the Aces jumped on the Screaming Eagles with three goals in the first 23 minutes of play. In the fourth minute, Álvaro Timón (Toledo, Spain/Valencia International University) found Will Bencic (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) on the left wing, who put a beautiful cross into the box for Escudero. From there, the freshman snuck a shot past the USI keeper to give the Aces the lead.
Evansville struck again just over six minutes later on a scoring chance started by Matt Hawkins (Louisville, Ky./Male), who sent a long ball to Ricker for a one-on-one scoring chance. After making his way into the left side of the box, the freshman unleashed a laser of a shot over the keeper and into the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.
The scoring continued in the 23
rd minute when the Aces drew a foul in the box to earn a penalty kick. Escudero stepped up to the spot and buried a shot, securing the brace and giving Evansville a 3-0 lead.
UE would continue to threaten throughout the remainder of the first half, putting up seven more shots, but the Aces were not able to add onto their lead. Michal Mroz (Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove) kept his clean sheet in-tact with a diving save just before halftime to help his team go into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Evansville did not let up in the second half, tallying 11 more shots. However, the Aces were kept off the board, while Mroz made two more saves to secure his first shutout and Evansville's first win of the season.
Series History
Wednesday marks the third meeting between the Aces and Flyers. Dayton won the previous two meetings in 2004 and 2005. The two sides met in 2022 in Dayton, but the match was canceled in the 33rd minute with a 0-0 score after torrential rain made the field unplayable.
Scouting Dayton
Dayton brings a 2-1-3 record into Wednesday's match, having most recently taken a 3-1 triumph over Saint Joseph's on Saturday. The Flyers entered the season ranked 12th in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and are currently ranked 9th in United Soccer Coaches' Southeast Region rankings.
Follow Along
Wednesday's match will be streamed live on ESPN+. Live stats are available at GoPurpleAces.com.
