The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team rallied in the second half to defeat Missouri University of Science & Technology, 2-1, on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field. The Screaming Eagles rise to 9-6-0 overall and 7-6-0 in the GLVC, while Missouri S&T sees its record go to 7-6-2 overall and 6-6-1 in the league.
The victory keeps GLVC Tournament hopes alive for the Eagles, who rise to seventh in the conference standings. USI can clinch the seventh seed in the upcoming league tournament with a win or tie in regular season finale Wednesday versus McKendree University. The top eight teams in the standing qualify for the GLVC Tournament that is slated to begin October 29.
USI and Missouri S&T battled to a 0-0 draw through the first 45 minutes. The Miners had a 4-2 advantage in shots, including a missed penalty kick that was saved by USI senior goalkeeper Adam Zehme (Orland Park, Illinois) at 26:04.
After the Miners bounced out to a 1-0 lead with a goal at 58:04 to start the second half, the Eagles rallied with a pair of unanswered goals to take their first lead of the game, 2-1. Sophomore forward Eric Ramirez(Vincennes, Indiana) knotted the game, 1-1, with his team-best sixth goal of the year off passes from sophomore defender Justin Brooks (Fishers, Indiana) and senior midfielder Kyle Richardville (Vincennes Indiana) at 71:39.
USI took its first lead of the contest and got the game-winning goal at 74:40 when senior midfielder Riley Belding (Columbus, Indiana) headed in a throw-in from sophomore defender Drew Albert (Eureka, Missouri). The goal was Belding’s first of the season.
USI concludes the 2017 regular season and the homestand Wednesday when it hosts McKendree for the 7:30 p.m. showdown. The Bearcats saw their record go to 2-13-0 overall, 0-13-0 GLVC, after losing 3-0 to Maryville University this afternoon.
The Eagles lead the all-time series with McKendree, 5-4-2, after the 0-0 tie last season in Lebanon, Illinois. USI is looking to post its first win over the Bearcats since 2013 when the Eagles won in overtime on the road.
