The Purple Aces played an aggressive game on Friday night against the High Point Panthers, but couldn’t find the equalizer in the last four and a half minutes in their 2-1 loss. Midfielder Jose Vivas scored his second goal of the season in the final two minutes of the first half off a misplayed Panther header. UE tried to find its late-game magic again in the second half after High Point’s second goal but came just short of the draw.
Evansville found themselves down early as the Panthers scored in the ninth minute of the game. After the goal, High Point kept the pressure on the Aces with three corner kicks in three minutes. UE turned to a more aggressive play style to match the Panthers intensity, as the two teams traded fouls midway through the opening period. As the first half came to a close, the Aces spent more time in the offensive zone, eventually being rewarded with their only goal of the game in the 43rd minute. Vivas second goal came off a High Point error as the junior used his right foot to launch the ball into the top left corner of the net.
It was a match of wills for much of the second half as the intensity picked up at Vert Stadium. Having to spend much of the frame either in the midfield or on the defensive, Evansville only recorded a single shot in the half. The shot came in the 61st minute as Nacho Diaz-Caneja found some open space in front of the net after a group of substitutions for the Aces. Diaz-Caneja’s shot was saved by Panther goalkeeper Justin Stewart. UE looked to be just mere minutes from their second draw of the season, but a shot from the middle of the net off a throw-in in the 85th-minute beat Aces keeper Aidan Montoure and into the right side of the net.
Evansville will look to split their trip in North Carolina on Monday morning in Asheville. The Purple Aces will take on the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at Greenwood Soccer Field on Sept. 4. Monday’s kickoff from Asheville is set for 11 a.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.
