KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan University men's soccer team had more shots on goal but didn't find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss to the Evansville Purple Aces.
Junior midfielder
Gabe Villagomez had a career night on the pitch with four shots, leading the Broncos in a tight match against Evansville. WMU had more opportunities at the net with nine shots on goal compared to the Purple Aces eight. But a penalty kick in the 71
st minute for UE was the only goal scored through 90 minutes of play for the Brown and Gold's first Missouri Valley Conference loss of the year.
"I'm disappointed with the result tonight," said Head Coach
Chad Wiseman. "We had several chances to take the lead in the first half, but Evansville's goalkeeper made a couple of great saves. Even with the saves, I thought we left a goal out there tonight."
It was a neck in neck match on Sunday night as the two teams were within a shot of each other both halves. Western Michigan had the advantage early, firing off all five of its shots in the first half within the opening ten minutes. The Broncos forced three saves from the Aces goalie with on target chances from midfielders
Liam Biggers and Josh Veychek and forward
Joseph Min.
But after the 10 minute mark Evansville began to dominate possession time, keeping the ball in WMU's defensive half for 57 percent of the first half. The Brown and Gold defense fended off six straight shots from the Aces, blocking one while senior goalkeeper
Alex Lindewirth made three saves over 18 minutes. It was a quiet last 10 minutes of the first half as neither team had an attacking opportunity.
The quick offensive pace returned to start the second half as the teams' traded shots in the first six minutes. Western Michigan was able to get a big offensive push midway through the second with five shots and two corner kicks in only 11 minutes. Just five minutes later the Bronco defense had to make a tough decision between letting Evansville score on an empty net or taking a foul in the box. WMU opted for the foul, giving the Aces a penalty kick opportunity that turned into the lone goal of the match.
Evansville tried to play keep away from the Brown and Gold for the final 20 minutes, but Western Michigan got one last offensive sequence in its attacking third. The Broncos got two more shots on goal following a corner kick in the 84
th minute. But neither attempt was able to get past the UE goalie for the 1-0 loss.
"At the end of the day, Assistant Coach Lyons always says those who don't score, get scored on," said Wiseman.
WMU finishes its four game homestand at The Farm in less than 48 hours after tonight's match. The Brown and Gold will play Holy Cross, of Indiana not Massachusetts, for the first time in program history on Tuesday night. Kickoff from the WMU Soccer Complex against the Saints on October 13 is set for 7:00 p.m.
