After watching a two-goal lead fade away, the University of Evansville men’s soccer team scored a goal in the second overtime to capture a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee in the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic on Saturday night at Arad McCutchan Stadium.
“I can’t say enough about our guys and how proud I am of the way they fought and battled back,” said Aces head coach Marshall Ray. “To give up two goals and make it 2-2 going into overtime, the guys really responded. I think we took it to them in the first overtime and had some opportunities on corner kicks and just held on.”
The Aces struck first in the 38th minute as senior Chris Shuck chipped the ball in to fellow senior Ian McGrath who finished the ball into the back of the net on a header.
Evansville added a second goal in the 62nd minute as sophomore Jesse Stafford Lacey chested down a pass just beyond the top of the box and spun the ball past the keeper to provide the Aces with a 2-0 lead.
In the 67th minute, Milwaukee got back within a goal on a penalty kick goal by Magnus Flaatedal that trimmed UE’s lead in half. Just six minutes later, the Panthers tied the match as Nick Moon played the ball into the box and Evan Conway scored to tie the match at two.
The final five minutes featured a shot on-goal for each side, but neither team could find the breakthrough in regulation.
The first overtime passed by without much of a scare for either team as the Aces took the lone two shots of the overtime period.
Just three minutes into the second overtime period in the 104th minute, McGrath received a pass from freshman Sam Bonano. McGrath dribbled into the box and fired a shot that was saved by the Panthers. After picking himself up from the ground, McGrath gathered the ball and ripped a second shot that found its way past a pair of Panthers and into the net for the game-winning goal.
Milwaukee out-shot the Aces, 17-14, but Evansville was the aggressor late with a 5-0 advantage on shots in the 13 minutes of overtime.
McGrath led the way for the Aces with two goals on four shots, while three other Aces, Jesse Stafford Lacey, Adam Snow, and Arlick Ntabana all recorded two shots with Stafford Lacey adding a goal. Senior goalkeeper Matthew Keller captured his third win of the season in goal, making six saves on 17 shots.
The Aces return to action in the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic on Monday at Arad McCutchan Stadium. Evansville wraps-up the classic with a matchup with NIU at 2:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
