University of Southern Indiana junior defender Brandon Williams (Avon, Indiana) scored with 4.4 seconds left in the second overtime to lead the Screaming Eagles to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Drury University Friday evening at Strassweg Field. The Eagles rise to 8-6-0 overall and 6-6-0 in the GLVC, while Drury sees its record go to 7-6-1 overall and 6-5-1 in the league.
The victory keeps GLVC Tournament hopes alive for the Eagles. USI remains ninth in the standings, but percentage points behind Drury and Missouri University of Science & Technology, which are tied for seventh with identical 6-5-1 conference marks. The top eight teams in the standing qualify for the GLVC Tournament that is slated to begin October 29.
The game winning goal came with USI’s final push in the second overtime. Sophomore forward Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana) broke away down the sideline and nudge the ball by the Panthers’ defense and toward an open goal before Williams slid into the goal with game-winning tally.
In regulation, USI found itself down 1-0 in the first 10 minutes as Drury scored the only goal of the half at 7:04. The 1-0 lead would stand up through the intermission.
In the second half, USI wasted no time in getting the equalizer when sophomore defender Drew Albert(Eureka, Missouri) scored at 46:25. The goal was the second of the season for Albert, who was assisted on the play by sophomore forward Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana).
The 1-1 tie lasted six minutes as the Panthers regained the one goal lead, 2-1, with a tally at 51:10.
The Eagles bounced back to get the equalizer at 85:19 when senior midfielder Kyle Richardville(Vincennes, Indiana) scored to even the match, 2-2. Richardville, who was playing for the first time since the first game of the season due to a knee injury, posted his second tally of the year off a pass from sophomore midfielder Adam Brecker (Columbia, Illinois) and set the stage for the incredible finish in double-overtime.
USI continues its homestand Sunday the annual Senior Day match when it hosts Missouri University of Science & Technology at noon. Ceremonies to honor USI’s 11 seniors will be held prior to the match.
Missouri S&T saw its record go to 7-5-2 overall, 6-5-1 in the league after winning in double-overtime, 3-2, at McKendree University tonight in Lebanon, Illinois.
The Eagles are behind in the all-time series with the Miners, 15-9-3, after the squads tied last year in Rolla, Missouri. USI is looking for its first win over the Miners since 2007 before they changed their institutional name from the University of Missouri-Rolla to Missouri S&T.
