SATURDAY'S SCORES
@St. Thomas 2,
Chicago State 1
@Western Illinois 2,
Eastern Illinois 1
@Liberty 4, USC Upstate 1
SIUE 1, @Bradley 1
ST. THOMAS 2, CHICAGO STATE 1
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Chicago State men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to St. Thomas Saturday afternoon at South Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Following a 0-0 halftime score, the Cougars took a 1-0 lead on an Arafath Ouro-Gnao goal just four minutes into the second half. The Tommies countered just a minute and half later, scoring the equalizer at 50:36 then took the lead with just over two minutes remaining then held on for the 2-1 win.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 2, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
MACOMB, Ill. - Eastern Illinois men's soccer ends the weekend defeated on the road by in-state rival Western Illinois, 2-1. WIU's goal to beat the Panthers came with only eight seconds left in the match. The Panthers are now 1-3-2 on the season while the Leathernecks reached its first win to improve to a 1-5-1 record.
In the first half, Maxwell Allen scored his first goal of the season to give the Panthers the lead at halftime. He was assisted by Sam Eccles.
In the second half, the Leathernecks tied the game in the 50th minute with Oskar Grevelius. With only eight seconds left on the clock, Diego Porras scored an Olimpico goal to give Western Illinois the 2-1 lead.
Goalkeeper Chad Smith made 6 saves in net for EIU, as the Leathernecks outshot the Panthers, 15-10.
LIBERTY 4, USC UPSTATE 1
LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Liberty Flames shut down the USC Upstate attack with an outstanding second-half defensive effort to roll past the Spartans 4-1 Saturday at Osborne Stadium.
Leading 2-1 at halftime, the host Flames pulled away from the Spartans in the second half, holding the visitors to one shot over the final 45 minutes of the non-conference match.
Luke Eberle scored twice in the contest for the Flames, his first multi-goal game of his career. Gabe Findley and Michael Huss added a goal each in the victory.
Liberty moves to 5-1 on the year. USC Upstate drops to 2-3-1.
Liberty opened the second 45 minutes on the attack. Garnering a free kick near the sideline off the left side of the 18-yard box, Findley sent a kick forward that was blocked in front by a Spartan defender and pushed back toward midfield. Findley jumped on the loose ball and pushed the ball from just inside the box across to Eberle who ripped a shot in stride to the back of the net for a 3-1 advantage at 49:50.
The Flames' defense then took over, not allowing USC Upstate to gain any momentum on its attack. Liberty stifled the visitors allowing just one shot.
SIUE 1, BRADLEY 1
PEORIA, Ill. - SIUE men's soccer conceded early and endured a weather delay of more than an hour, but fought back for a 1-1 draw at Bradley Saturday night.
SIUE moved to 4-0-2 on the year, marking the first time since returning to Division I that the Cougars have been unbeaten through the first six games in a season.
Bradley (4-0-3) broke out on top in the sixth minute. When a long shot hit the post and came out to the middle of the box. D.J. Koulai found Kevin Mejias streaking down the middle and slid in the ball from the penalty spot.
Midway through the first half, the field was cleared due to lightning. Heavy rains followed. Bradley held the 1-0 advantage at half.
The Cougars found the equalizer in the 57th minute when Ignacio Abeal Pou found Nic Muench who tied the score with his second of the year.
Andres Delascio picked off a clearance near midfield and worked the ball to the right through Aaron Crabtree and Alsadiq Hasan. Delascio got the ball back and fed Ignacio Abeal Pou on the left side just outside the box. Nacho worked into the box before driving a cross into the middle, where Nic Muench was able to head home from eight yards out.
For the second game in a row, SIUE matched its season high with 15 shots. The Cougars took 11 shots in the second half.
Bradley took 13 shots, including seven on goal. Sam Gomez tied his career high with six saves in the game.