The Purple Aces put four shots on goal in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Evansville men’s soccer team suffered its second loss in a row in a 4-1 match against the Butler Bulldogs.
Graduate forward Sami Owusu (Denver, Colo. / Dayton) found the back of the net for the second time this season in the 69th minute, but it was too little too late to rally the Purple Aces on Tuesday night. UE got off to a quick start, putting up the first shot of the night. But it was Butler who struck first in the ninth minute on a solo shot from the left side of the 18 from freshman Jose Angel Luna.
Momentum shifted to the Bulldogs, but Evansville found its offense again in the 15th minute. The Aces took four shots in under two minutes, coming close but not quite finding the back of the net. The pace of play evened out between the two teams until Butler broke through for a second goal in the 35th minute. UE headed into the second half staring down a two-goal deficit, looking to break through on offense after leading in shots through the first 45 minutes.
Evansville came out of the half with a new energy, firing off four shots in the first seven minutes of the second half. But yet again the Bulldogs found a way to get to the back of the net in the 55th minute to make it a three-goal deficit for the Aces. UE wouldn’t let themselves be shut out of the match as Owusu scored in the 69th minute on a wide-arching right-footed shot off a defensive Butler play.
The goal gave Evansville some new life late in the game as forward Kai Phillip (Diego Martin, Trinidad, and Tobago) had a chance inside the attacking third two minutes later. While midfielder Jose Vivas (Teurel, Spain) had a shot ring off the post, coming just inches from his second goal in as many games. The Aces surging comeback was stymied by the Bulldogs in the final eight minutes as the Bulldogs added a fourth and final goal in the 85th minute.
Owusu was UE’s only player to register a point on the night while forward Nacho Diaz Barragan (Almeria, Spain) led the team with five shot attempts and three landing on goal. Evansville returns home to begin Missouri Valley Conference action on Saturday night. The Aces welcome another Bulldog team to town in the Drake Bulldogs on Sept. 14th. Kick-off from Arad McCutchan Field is set for 7 p.m.
