- Archie McDonnell scored his first career goal as SIUE men's soccer played to a 1-1 draw with Bradley Wednesday night at Korte Stadium.
Playing as the 66ers for the first time Wednesday, SIUE moved to 1-4-1 for the year. Bradley is 1-1-5.
SIUE trailed 1-0 in the 72nd minute when Bobby Pauly played a ball out wide to Elliot Forestier on the left side. Forestier lifted a pass into the box where Juan Rodas settled it. Rodas then played it out to the top of the box where McDonnell blasted home from 19 yards out.
After playing a scoreless first half, Connor Chester got the scoring started for Bradley in the 58th minute. Connor Chester scored after a give-and-go from Max Manzelmann.
The 66ers outshot the Braves 16-9, marking the first time this year SIUE has finished with more shots than its opponents. SIUE finished with four shots on frame.
CHICAGO - Eastern Illinois men's soccer put together a dominant offensive performance Wednesday night, scoring four goals on 22 shots as the Panthers defeated Chicago State, 4-1, in non-conference action.
Eastern Illinois wasted little time finding its rhythm, scoring three goals in the opening 45 minutes to take a 3-1 advantage into halftime. The Panthers continued to control play after the break, adding another goal while limiting the Cougars to just three second-half shots.
Marcos Ayelo led the Panthers with two goals, while Sergej Misic and Keidin Green each added a goal. Misic also recorded an assist, and Shuto Ishikawa finished with an assist as Eastern Illinois totaled four goals and two assists on the night.
Ayelo opened the scoring for the Panthers, finding the back of the net twice in the first half as Eastern Illinois established control early. Misic also scored during the opening 45 minutes and assisted on one of the Panthers' goals.
Chicago State answered with a goal from Darrien Gates II, but Eastern Illinois continued to apply pressure and carried a 3-1 lead into halftime.
The Panthers maintained their offensive attack in the second half, outshooting Chicago State 13-3 after the break. Eastern Illinois added its fourth goal of the night to put the match out of reach and secure the road victory.
Eastern Illinois finished with a 22-7 advantage in shots and placed 13 shots on goal compared to five for Chicago State. The Panthers also dominated the corner-kick battle, earning 12 corner kicks while allowing just one.
Ayelo finished with a team-high five shots and four shots on goal. Green also recorded five shots, including three on frame. Misic added four shots and three shots on goal, while Ishikawa and Nolan Getzinger each recorded two shots.
Defensively, goalkeeper Kai Odagiri played all 90 minutes and earned the victory in his first start of the season. Odagiri made three saves, while the Panthers' defense held Chicago State to just seven total shots.
Eastern Illinois' offensive pressure was particularly evident in the second half, when the Panthers recorded nine corner kicks and 13 shots while limiting the Cougars to one corner and three shots.
FLORIDA GULF COAST 3, HCU 1
HOUSTON - Houston Christian University put a goal on the board two minutes into the match but saw Florida Gulf Coast University score three unanswered and hand the Huskies a 3-1 defeat at Sorrels Field on Wednesday night.
HCU wasted no time getting on the board, as Henrik Sakshaug laced a ball towards the box that was redirected into the net off a beautiful backheel by Ryan Okerayi, handing the Huskies an early 1-0 lead.
That lead didn't last long, as FGCU leveled things on a similar goal just 12 minutes later. A pass into the box by Ricardo Felix found Brooks Beeman, whose redirection slipped just past Harvey Heeps to make a 1-all game.
The Eagles would fly ahead in the just shy of the 29th minute. A long free kick by FGCU was headed out by HCU, but the ball fell squarely to the foot of Flavio D'Angelo. He had a go from just outside the penalty arc, and his missile flew into the goal to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage, which they'd take into the intermission.
As the 57th minute ended the Eagles would add some breathing room with a little help. A giveaway in the back turned into a nice centering pass from Felix that found Emerson LaOrden. After a touch, his shot planted on the back of the net, giving FGCU a commanding 3-1 lead.
FGCU would go a man down in just on the stroke of the 62nd minute. HCU would have eight more cracks at it, with four strong looks on target, but couldn't get anything past Eduard Garcia down the stretch.
The Huskies outshot the Eagles 15-8 in total, 8-5 on target, and earned five corners to just one for the visitors.
The score by Okerayi was his second of the season, and Henrik Sakshaug earned his first assist. Harvey Heeps made two saves for the Huskies.
Okerayi's goal was the second fastest of his career at HCU. He scored with exactly one minute gone against Western Illinois University in 2024, and this goal surpasses his game-winner just 2:27 gone in last year's OVC semifinal against Liberty University.