Eagles, Cougars battle to 3-3 draw

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer and Chicago State University battle to a 3-3 draw Thursday afternoon at Strassweg Field. The Screaming Eagles go to 1-9-2 overall and 0-3-2 in the OVC, while Chicago State is 3-8-2, 1-3-1 OVC.
 
USI exploded offensively following the the kickoff, scoring a pair of goals in the first five minutes. Junior forward Robert Schoenstein (Evansville, Indiana) put the Eagles in front, 1-0, with his first goal of the season at 1:16.
 
Schoenstein was assisted on the goal by senior midfielder Nick Faddis (St. Louis, Missouri) and junior midfielder Elmer Garcia (Indianapolis, Indiana).
 
Garcia increased the USI advantage to 2-0 three minutes later when he recorded his first tally of the season at 3:55. He had a clear shot from five yards out, after receiving assisting passes from Schoenstein and Faddis.
 
The Eagles saw their lead grow to 3-0 after Faddis convert his second penalty kick of the season at 22:35 for his second goal of the year. USI was awarded the penalty kick after Schoenstein was fouled inside the box.
 
The Cougars chipped away at the Eagles’ lead late in the first half, scoring their first of the match at 29:05. The 3-1 USI lead would hold through the end of halftime.
 
Cougars would own the second half with a pair of goals in the final 21 minutes and outshoot the Eagles, 11-2. Chicago State narrowed USI’s lead to 3-2 with a tally at 69:24 before putting a flurry of shots on the Eagles’ goal in the final minutes to get the equalizer at 88:26 for a 3-3 final.
 
 
NEXT UP FOR USI:
The Eagles reach the middle of the three-game homestand Sunday when it hosts Liberty University for Senior Day at 1 p.m. USI will honor its 10 seniors in a pregame ceremony at 12:15 p.m.
 
Liberty began this week’s action with a 4-0 win at Eastern Illinois University and watched it record go to 8-4-0 overall mark, 3-2-0 OVC. The Flames broke a two-match losing skid with the win and are 3-3-0 in the last six matches.
 
The homestand wraps up October 19 when Eastern Illinois University comes to Strassweg Field for a 3 p.m. contest.