EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer earned a victory over St. Thomas University on Wednesday, 2-0. The Screaming Eagles improve to 2-11-3, 2-4-1 Summit League, while the Tommies fall to 3-11-2, 2-4-1 Summit League.
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Both teams played very well defensively in the first half, only seven total shots being taken in the first half. It was a mistake by St. Thomas’ Isaac Eckroth at the 44:35 mark in the first half when he took down freshman Jackson Mitchell (Newburgh, Indiana) from behind in the box and received a red card for the foul. USI earned a penalty from the foul and junior Brian Winkler (Philpot, Kentucky) faked the keeper and put the ball into the bottom left-hand corner, giving the Eagles the 1-0 lead. Junior goalkeeper Alec Meissner (St. Charles, Missouri) made three saves in the first half after the Tommies had four shots.
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USI came out aggressive to start the second half and it paid off as a communication error between St. Thomas’ Jack Gleckler and goalkeeper Tucker Mann allowed a ball to roll into the net for an own goal, giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
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USI finished the match outshooting St. Thomas 11-7 and having a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. It was a very physical match as 19 fouls were called, and five yellow cards were given out along with the one red card to Eckroth. Mitchell, Junior Zach Barton (St. Louis, Missouri), and graduate Nick Faddis (St. Louis, Missouri) all tied for the team lead in shots with two a piece while five different Eagles had shots on goal. Meissner finished the match with his second clean sheet of the season, making four saves after facing seven shots.
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UP NEXT FOR USI:
The Eagles finish their season on Saturday as they travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take on Oral Roberts University with a 1pm kickoff from the Case Sports Complex. The Golden Eagles are 10-3-2, 6-1-0 Summit League, this year and hold the regular season crown in the Summit League and would secure the title with Denver University falling in one of their final two matches or by earning a draw or win against USI.
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Oral Roberts is being led by Felipe D’Agostini this season as he has six goals. Shane Anderson leads the Golden Eagles with nine assists this year. Oral Roberts has seven players with multiple goals and assists this season. Jeremy Coste has started every game for them this season, allowing just 17 goals and making 56 saves while facing 194. The Golden Eagles have outscored opponents 38-17 this season but have been outshot 195-186.
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