Eureka Blanked at Franklin, 3-0
FRANKLIN, Ind. – A day after a violent thunderstorm washed out the scheduled 2011 season opener for the Eureka College men's soccer team, the Red Devils hit the pitch to begin their season a day later than expected and dropped a 3-0 non-conference decision at Franklin, Sunday afternoon at Faught Stadium in Franklin, Ind.
The hosts did all of their damage during a 9-minute, 35-second stretch late in the first half. Craig Wood broke the scoreless tie with a successful strike in 29th minute. Joel Fisher was credited with an assist on the game-winner. Fisher made it 3-0 less than 10 minutes later when he scored back-to-back goals in a span of 84 seconds shortly before halftime.
Eureka senior Derek Johnson (Leland, Ill./Leland H.S.) made a run at putting the Red Devils on their board early in the second half, but his shot on target in the 49th minute was stopped by Franklin goalkeeper Brad Phillips.
The Red Devils will try for a second time to open the home portion of their schedule when Knox visits Wednesday at 4 p.m. Eureka will be in search of its third straight victory over the Prairie Fire.
NOTES: Eureka is now 2-3-0 in season-openers and 1-2-0 when opening on the road ... The loss drops the Red Devils to 0-3-0 all-time against Franklin and 0-5-0 against members of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference ... Senior Richie Gregory (Champaign, Ill./Judah Christian H.S.) joined Tom Moody (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey H.S.) and goalkeeper Tyler Mumm (Monticello, Ill./Monticello H.S.) as the only Red Devils to play the full 90 minutes ... Second-year head coach J.L. Zapushek used 19 players on Sunday, including seven newcomers.
