The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team blasted Lewis University, 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field. USI watched its record rise to 7-1-0 overall and 5-1-0 in the GLVC, while Lewis falls to 1-7-0, 0-6-0 GLVC.
At 7-1-0 overall, the Screaming Eagles have tied the 1982 squad for the best start in the history of the program. The 1982 team, the only Eagles men’s soccer team to advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament, began its season 6-0-2.
USI also has won five matches in a row, just two short of the program record of seven that was reached by the 1990 and 1991 teams that won GLVC championships.
Eagles’ junior forward Kyle Richardville (Vincennes, Indiana) kicked off the scoring for USI at 19:41. Richard gave USI a 1-0 lead on his third goal of the year and was assisted by freshman midfielders Sean Rickey (Columbia, Illinois) and Adam Becker (Columbia, Illinois).
USI saw its lead extended to 2-0 on a tally by freshman forward Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana) at 24:56. Ramirez, who increased his team-leading goal total to six, was assisted on the goal by freshman defender Justin Brooks (Fishers, Indiana).
After USI carried the 2-0 lead through halftime, Rickey gave the Eagles an insurance goal at 56:23 off a pass from Richardville to give the match its eventual final score of 3-0. The goal was Rickey’s fourth of the season.
Between the posts for the Eagles, junior goalkeeper Adam Zehme (Orland Park, Illinois) recorded his second shutout and his career-high seventh win of the fall. Zehme needed to make just one save in facing three Flyer shots.
USI hits the road next weekend when it travels to Saint Joseph’s College Friday and the University of Indianapolis Sunday. Match time versus Saint Joseph’s in Rensselaer, Indiana, is set for 7:30 p.m., while kick-off at UIndy in Indianapolis is slated for 1:30 p.m. (CDT).
The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of Strassweg Field October 7 when they start a home weekend against William Jewell College. USI concludes the short two-match homestand October 9 when it hosts Rockhurst University.
