With the game heading towards overtime, the trio of Sara Osinski, Montana Portenier, and Nicki Baham linked up for a late goal that helped give the University of Evansville women’s soccer team a 2-1 victory over UT Martin on Sunday night at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

Nearly the entire first half ticked by without many scoring chances for the Aces and Skyhawks, but senior Nicki Baham pounced late in the half when presented an opportunity. In the 43rd minute, Baham responded to a defensive miscue by UT Martin, stealing the ball and fighting through contact before finishing past the keeper to give the Aces a 1-0 lead.

The Skyhawks responded just ten minutes into the second half with a goal of their own in the 56th minute that tied the contest at a goal a piece as Katelyn Colvin whipped in a cross that Aces freshman goalkeeper Michaela Till deflected. The ball ended up at the feet of the Skyhawks’ Nicole Collins who slipped it into the back of the net.

As the clocked ticked under three minutes left in regulation, the game seemed destined for overtime. UE mounted one last effort as Baham settled the ball just beyond the top of the box and slid it to the left of the box for a sprinting Portenier. The senior dribbled and spotted Osinski making a run through the box and crossed the ball to the junior who rebounded a deflection by the keeper and clipped it into the back of the net to push the Aces back ahead, 2-1.

“That’s probably the first time in a couple years that we have had three people running in the goal at the same time and there for the putback,” said head coach Krista McKendree. “We don’t get a lot of putback goals and that is what we have really been trying to focus on is continue your run and try to get some scrap goals.”

UT Martin earned a pair of corner kicks in the final minute, but was unable to send the match to overtime.

Portenier fired a team-best two shots, adding an assist on the game-winning goal. Baham and Osinski each took just one shot, both goals, while Baham added an assist.

In goal, Till earned her first collegiate victory, making three saves and allowing one goal in the victory.

UT Martin out-shot the Aces, 13-6, but held just a single shot advantage over UE on shots on goal.

“We’ve been talking a lot about just making sure they’re willing to grind it out,” said McKendree. “For us, it’s going to be about trying to use our bench and trying to make sure we’re working as hard as we can for the time we are in there. The team bought into that tonight and I think they did what we’ve been asking them to do for the last week.”

The Aces return to action on Friday when UE hosts IUPUI for a non-conference clash at 5 p.m. at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

 In its only tune-up before the regular season, the University of Evansville men’s soccer team scored twice in the first 26 minutes and held on for a 2-1 victory over IUPUI on Sunday evening at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

The Aces opened the match aggressive, firing three shots before seven minutes had passed. UE found its breakthrough in the 15thminute as senior Arlick Ntabana received a pass from junior Caleb Williams and buried it in the back of the net to provide the Aces with a 1-0 lead.

“Arlick’s a senior for us and he’s grown into his role and he understands what that is,” said Aces head coach Marshall Ray. “It was a great strike and he put it on frame and I couldn’t be happier for him. He deserves it.”

Less than 11 minutes later, UE found another goal as junior Zac Blaydes slid a sublime through ball to senior Ian McGrath, who timed his run well and found the back of the net to open up a 2-0 advantage for the Aces.

“It took us a while to start finding the midfielder’s feet and trying to find those combinations in the middle, but when we did we started to open them up a little bit,” said Ray. “It was a good run from deep from McGrath and Blaydes was able to play him a good ball through and he was cool on the finish.”

The Aces put two more shots on goal in the second half, but could not find a third goal. In the final seconds of the contest,IUPUI pulled one back to get back within a goal with just 39 second remaining in the game, but the Jaguars could not scramble to find the equalizer in the final ticks.

McGrath led the way for the Aces with a goal on a match-high four shots, while Ntabana added a goal on a pair of shots. Senior goalkeeper Matthew Keller stood tall between the posts, making the start and playing the first 60 minutes of action, earning the victory.

UE out-shot the Jaguars, 16-5, with an 11-0 advantage in the first half. The Aces also earned seven more corner kicks than IUPUI.

“It was a good chance for us to get everybody out tonight and get on the field and play a little bit, which was beneficial for us,” said Ray. “Great crowd tonight. It was great to have the freshman out and the community came out tonight. It’s always easier to play when you have fans backing you.”

The win is UE’s seventh-straight victory in its exhibition opener with the Aces’ last loss coming to Louisville on August 16, 2008.

The Aces open regular season action on Friday with a meeting with Anderson University (IN) at 7:30 p.m. at AradMcCutchan Stadium.

Down 4-3 in the 10^th inning, the Evansville Otters rallied to beat the River City Rascals 5-4 on Brandon Soat’s two-run RBI double in front of 1,346 at Bosse Field on a night where the franchise honored former manager Greg Jelks and supporter Janet Gries.

The late heroics from Evansville capped a series sweep of the Rascals and it was the Otters fourth sweep of the season.

Evansville is now one win away from 1,000 franchise victories.

In the 10^th, John Schultz singled to lead off the inning. After Nick Walker replaced him as a pinch-runner, Alejandro Segovia lined a single off the left field wall to put runners at the corners. Walker and Segovia would both score on Soat’s double.

Evansville grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Dane Phillips.

A solo home run by River City’s Josh Silver tied the game at 1-1 in the second.

After both teams went scoreless in the third and fourth, Phillips put the Otters ahead 2-1 with an RBI single that scored Ryan Long.

Josh Allen increased the Otters’ advantage to 3-1 in the seventh with a sacrifice fly that scored Christopher Riopedre.

In the eighth, Johnny Morales’ RBI ground out cut the deficit to one run and Josh Ludy tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI double that scored Clint Freeman.

River City took a lead in the top of the tenth as Johnny Morales scored off a double steal and a throwing error by Kolten Yamaguchi.

Phillips went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Evansville starter Felix Baez made his first start since July 20, giving up a single run off two hits in five innings of work. Baez struck out five Rascals in his return from the injured list.

River City’s Zeb Sneed surrendered three runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out seven in seven innings.

The Otters continue their homestand on Tuesday to begin a series against the Normal Cornbelters. Action is scheduled to begin at 4:35 p.m. as play will resume in the top of the second inning with Normal leading 3-0 from an earlier rain suspension at Normal.

The regularly scheduled game between the Cornbelters and Otters will take place approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion.

Tuesday’s series opener against Normal at Bosse Field is Law Enforcement Night. The Otters invite law enforcement officials to bring their police vehicles and k9 units and they will also be set up on the concourse passing out information. All local law enforcement departments are invited to come to the game. It’s also a $2 Tuesday with general admission tickets and select concession items just $2.

Fans can listen live to the game on 91.5 FM WUEV and watch on the Otters Digital Network. Lucas Corley (play-by-play) and Bill McKeon (analysis) will provide coverage.

Tickets for Tuesday are still available by going to evansvilleotters.com or calling 812-435-8686.