EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's soccer team saw its hopes for a berth in the upcoming GLVC Tournament take a step backwards in a 2-1 overtime loss to McKendree University Friday evening at Strassweg Field. The Screaming Eagles falls to 5-8-2 overall and 4-7-2 in the GLVC, while the Bearcats see their record go to 5-8-2, 5-7-1 GLVC.
Despite the loss, USI remains in the hunt for the eighth and final slot in the league's post-season tournament. The Eagles are a game behind Bellarmine University, which took the lead in earning the final spot with a 2-0 win over the University of Illinois Springfield on Friday. McKendree and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside also moved a half-game ahead of USI in the standings.
The top eight teams in the GLVC qualify for the league's post-season tournament that is slated to begin November 2.
In the match, USI jumped out in front quickly when senior midfielder
Colton Tanner (Alexandria, Kentucky) gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead at 6:22. Tanner, who tied for the team-lead with his third tally of the year, scored off a pair of passes from junior midfielder
Logan Ball (Newburgh, Indiana) and freshman midfielder
Riley Belding (Columbus, Indiana).
McKendree would rally 12 minutes later, scoring the equalizer at 18:27. The score would remain tied, 1-1 through the intermission.
In the second half, all of the momentum seemed to swing to McKendree as the Bearcats outshot the Eagles, 7-1. Both, USI and McKendree's defenses, held firm through the final half of regulation and sent the squads to overtime tied, 1-1.
In overtime, McKendree did not wait long as the Bearcats posted the game-winning tally on their first shot 1:53 into extra-time. In the end, McKendree would out shoot USI, 14-13, making the most of the one extra shot.
USI has two regular-season matches remaining in 2014, one on the road and one at home. The Eagles finish this weekend by traveling to Illinois Springfield Sunday for a 2:30 p.m. match-up before ending the regular season October 29 at 7:30 p.m. when they host Bellarmine at Strassweg Field.
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