Eureka Routs Robert Morris-Springfield, 6-1
EUREKA, Ill. – Three different Eureka College men's soccer players scored their first career goals and sophomore Tom Moody (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey H.S.) delivered the match-winner in the 10th minute, leading the Red Devils to a 6-1 non-conference romp over Robert Morris-Springfield, Friday afternoon at Traister Field.
A corner kick off the foot of Eureka senior Derek Johnson (Leland, Ill./Leland H.S.) put the wheels in motion on Eureka's first scoring play just 132 seconds into the match. Johnson's service found a leaping Kirby Wagner (Roanoke, Ill./Roanoke-Benson H.S./St. Ambrose) in the box, who headed home his first collegiate goal past RMU goalkeeper Nick Schrock for a 1-0 lead. The strike was the second-fastest goal to start a match in program history.
Moody netted the match-winner at the 9:27 mark of the first half after an RMU turnover when his deep drive into the wind was knocked down just enough to drop over the head of Schrock into the back of the net for a 2-0 Eureka advantage.
The visitors got on the board with a wind-aided strike in the 20th minute. Following a Eureka foul, RMU's Jonathan Diaz boomed the ensuing free kick from beyond midfield over the head of Eureka junior goalkeeper Nathan Mullins (South Duxbury, Vt./Harwood Union H.S.) and into the net to cut Eureka's lead in half, 2-1.
The Red Devils were able to answer in the 28th minute when junior defender Kyle Oyer (Metamora, Ill./Metamora H.S.) cleaned up a rebound in the RMU penalty area with a header past Schrock for a 3-1 advantage. Cody Halstead (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods H.S./Illinois Central) and Blake Baxter (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) were credited with assists on Oyer's goal, as it was Halstead's initial header stopped by Schrock that created the rebound for Oyer.
Eureka sophomore Tyler Mumm (Monticello, Ill./Monticello H.S.) opened the scoring after intermission with his first career goal at 47:31. Freshman Gerald Barnett (Peoria, Ill./Central H.S.) assisted on the tally. Senior midfielder Evan Kingery (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth H.S.) made it 5-1 in the 74th minute when he finished a deep pass from Moody down the middle of the pitch, and freshman Stanley Murphy (Peoria, Ill./Manual H.S.) closed the scoring for the Red Devils when he was able to beat Schrock amidst chaos in the box at the 79:54 mark. Halstead and Moody each picked up their second assist of the afternoon on Murphy's goal.
Mullins made five saves in the full 90 minutes for the Red Devils to earn his second victory of the season and the fourth win of his career. The Red Devils owned a 37-15 advantage in shots and allowed only three attempts from the Eagles in the second half. The 37 shots attempted were the second-most attempted in a single match in program history. Second-year head coach J.L. Zapushek used 19 players in the victory, all of which played at least 11 minutes.
Friday's win improved Eureka to 2-6-0 on the campaign and snapped a five-match losing streak. RMU lost its seventh straight decision to fall to 1-7-0
The Red Devils will return to St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Sunday in St. Louis, Mo. against Webster. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
