EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana sophomore forward Ednilson Voiles (Haiti) scored with 1:01 left and senior goalkeeper Braden Matthews (Princton, Indiana) made a match-saving save with five second remaining as the Screaming Eagles earned a 1-1 tie with Liberty University Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field. The Eagles go to 1-9-3 overall and 0-3-3 in the OVC, while the Flames are 8-4-1, 3-2-1 OVC.
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USI and Liberty battle back and forth across the field for the first 45 minutes with the Flames coming out with the 1-0 lead at the break. USI senior forward Zach Barton (St. Louis, Missouri) had the best shots for the Eagles during the first half, putting a pair on-goal.
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Liberty took a first half lead at the 43:36 mark when a shot ricocheted off the post and into the back of goal for the only tally of the first 45.
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In the second half, Matthews and the Eagles’ defense kept the Flames off the scoreboard throughout the final 45 minutes and set the stage for Voiles in the final minutes. Voiles got the ball on the right side of the attacking end and crossed the field, beating a pair of Liberty defenders, before sending a laser into the lower left hand corner of the goal.
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The Flames tried to rally in the final minute and nearly got the match-winner, but Matthews had his fourth save of game in his back pocket, knocking the final shot of the match out of bounds to preserve the tie.
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NEXT UP FOR USI:
The Eagles conclude the homestand Thursday when it hosts Eastern Illinois University for a 3 p.m. contest. EIU, which is slated to play Chicago State University this afternoon at 3 p.m., entered today’s action with a 2-8-2 overall record, 1-4-0 OVC.
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The Panthers lead the all-time series with the Eagles, 8-2-0, after posting a 2-1 win over USI last year in Charleston, Illinois, in Summit League action. EIU has won the last two meetings, dating back to 1993.
