EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Soccer fell to the University of Missouri-Kansas City on Wednesday, 2-0. It was a tough showing for the Screaming Eagles as they fall to 0-7-2, 0-1-0 Summit League, while the Roos improve to 4-3-1, 2-0-0 Summit League.
 
It was an impressive defensive first half for both teams, as they went into halftime 0-0. There were only six combined shots in the first half and three shots on goal. Alec Meissner (St. Charles, Missouri) and the USI defense did a great job keeping the UMKC offense at bay as Meissner made two saves in the first half.
 
The Roos were able to start the second half quickly, scoring at the 46:48 mark after Kotaro Hirokawa sent a freekick into the box and Arne Neufang was able to slot it into the back of the net. While the Eagles defense stepped up after the goal, UMKC was able to extend their lead to two goals after Kazuki Kimura put it in the back of the net, assisted by Hirokawa and Philipp Barara.
 
It was a fight till the end for both teams after combining for 32 fouls on the match and four yellow cards were given out. USI struggled offensively in the second half, registering just two shots. In total, the Roos outshot the Eagles 10-4 and had a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Zach Barton (St. Louis, Missouri) led USI in shots and shots on goal with two each, Mical Hardtman (Hamilton Parish, Bermuda) and Ednilson Voiles (Jeremie, Haiti) had the two other shots for the Eagles. Meissner finished the match with two goals allowed and three saves.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE EAGLES:
USI heads back on the road for their next two matches, traveling to Charleston, Illinois to take on Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, October 1, with a 2pm kickoff. The Eagles will then travel to take on Bellarmine University on October 4 in Louisville, Kentucky with a 6pm (CDT) kickoff.
 
Eastern Illinois goes into the match with USI 1-5-1, 0-1-0 Summit League, on the season. The Panthers were predicted to finish tied for seventh in the Summit League preseason poll after finishing seventh in the league last season. EIU is being led by Sam Eccles who has two goals and ten shots on the year while Chad Smith has been their lead man in goal, allowing 16 goals and had made 37 saves on the season.