University of Southern Indiana Men’s scored early and often to defeat Truman State University, 4-1, Friday afternoon in Kirksville, Missouri. The Screaming Eagles see their record go to 6-5-3 overall and 6-4-2 in the GLVC, while Truman State goes to 5-67-2, 4-6-2 GLVC.
The victory puts the Eagles over the .500 mark overall for the first time this season.
USI sophomore defender Colten Walsh put the Eagles on the scoreboard with one of the quickest goals in Eagles history, finding the back of the net just 38 seconds into the match. The goal was the second of the season for Walsh, who was assisted by senior midfielder Sean Rickey and senior forward Eric Ramirez.
The Eagles pushed the lead to 2-0 when Rickey blasted a shot through the legs of the Bulldog goalkeeper at 16:52. The goal was Rickey’s fifth of the season, tying him for the team lead with Ramirez.
Truman cut the USI lead in half, 2-1, with a tally at 19:39 and the Eagles would carry the one-goal lead into the intermission.
USI sealed the victory in the second half with two more goals. Freshman forward Zach Barton extended the lead to 3-1 at 46:26 on his third tally of the season and assisted by senior midfielder Adam Becker. The Eagles concluded the scoring in the victory when senior defender Drew Albert notched his second goal of the year at 77:34 off a second assist by Becker.
Between the posts, junior goalkeeper Justin Faas won his sixth match of the year. Faas faced nine Truman State shots, allowed one goal, and made two saves.
USI finishes the road trip Sunday with a 2:30 p.m. visit to Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. The Hawks, who are 7-6-0 overall and 5-5-0 in the GLVC, host McKendree University this evening.
Quincy leads the all-time series with USI, 17-7-2, but the Eagles have had the upper hand over the last five years, going 4-0-1 versus the Hawks. USI won at Quincy last fall, 2-0, on goals by Rickey and Ramirez.
