EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana freshman midfielder/forward Zach Schoenstein capped off a Screaming Eagles rally to defeat Davenport University, 4-3, in overtime Friday at Strassweg Field. The Eagles even their record 1-1-0, while the Panthers fall to 0-3-0 in 2021.
Schoenstein scored the “golden goal” 3:27 into overtime to give the Eagles the victory. The goal was the first of the season and the first as a collegiate for Schoenstein, who was assisted on the play by junior defender Colten Walsh.
The goal capped off a USI rally from a 3-1 deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation and the overtime.
USI sophomore midfielder Brian Winkler started the Eagles off on the right foot with his first goal of the season at 4:53 of the opening half. Winkler was assisted on the play by senior defender Justin Brooks.
The 1-0 lead would last until the 28:42 mark when Davenport scored the equalizer. The Panther would up the lead to 2-1 with a tally just before halftime at 43:42 and pushed out to a 3-1 lead 12 minutes into the second half (57:31).
USI’s rally for the win would start with 9:02 left on the clock when senior forward Graham Miller knocked in the Eagles’ second goal and his first of the season to cut the deficit to 3-2. Miller was assisted on the play by junior midfielder/defender Eli Quivey and freshman midfielder Garland Hall.
The Eagles knotted the game up 3-3 and set the stage for the overtime win on a goal by freshman midfielder Wesley Rhodes. Rhodes picked up his first collegiate tally off a pass from Schoenstein.
Between the posts, senior goalkeeper Justin Faas picked up his first win of the season. Faas allowed three goals, but made 11 saves to get the win.
UPCOMING FOR THE EAGLES:
USI concludes its season-opening homestand Sunday when it open Great Lakes Valley Conference action by hosting McKendree University. USI was forecast to place sixth in the GLVC prior to the season.
McKendree is 0-0-2 to start the season after tying Ashland University, 1-1, and Ohio Dominican University, 2-2, last week. The Bearcats are predicted to place fifth in the league this fall.
USI leads the all-time series with McKendree, 7-5-3, and will be hosting the Bearcats for the first time since the GLVC-opener in 2019. The last match between the two programs was in the 2019 GLVC Tournament semifinals with McKendree taking a 1-0 decision on a neutral field in Louisville, Kentucky.
