The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team had to rally in the last six minutes to defeat Bellarmine University, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field. The Eagles see their record go to 5-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 GLVC, while the Knights go to 2-4-1, 1-2-1 GLVC.
USI jumped out in front early in the first half when junior midfielder Sean Rickey (Columbia, Illinois) gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead at 14:24. Rickey was assisted on his sixth goal of the season by sophomore defender Justin Raines (Bartlett, Tennessee).
The Rickey-Raines duo would strike again in the second half to give the Eagles a comfortable 2-0 lead at 54:03. The goal was Rickey’s team-best seventh of the year and his fourth of the weekend.
The Knights, however, were not about to go quietly as they tied the score, 2-2, with goals at 60:23 and 68:13. USI was held to one shot during Bellarmine’s rally to tie the score.
The Eagles regained the momentum and pushed forward until freshman midfielder Drew Domalewski(Wentzville, Missouri) scored the game-winning goal at 84:09. Domalewski posted his first collegiate goal off of passes by freshman defender Luke Lindsay (Plymouth, Minnesota) and sophomore defender Josef Winkler (Philpot, Kentucky).
USI’s defense would stand tall in the final five minutes, allowing only one additional shot by Bellarmine to seal the victoy. USI sophomore goalkeeper Justin Faas (Carmel, Indiana) recorded his fifth win of the year, going to 5-1-1 between the posts after allowing two goals and making three saves.
USI concludes the two match homestand Friday when the Eagles host the Prairie Stars of the University of Illinois Springfield at Strassweg Field for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. USI leads the all-time series with the Prairie Stars, 9-4-1, since Illinois Springfield joined the GLVC in 2009.
Illinois Springfield saw its record go to 4-2-2 overall and 3-0-1 in the GLVC after defeating Lewis University, 2-0, in Romeoville, Illinois, this afternoon.
