In a thrilling showdown in Springfield, Mo., on Sunday, the UIS men's soccer team mounted an impressive comeback to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory over Drury. UIS improves to 4-3-2 overall and 4-1-2 in GLVC play, while Drury drops to 3-3-4 overall and 1-3-3 in the conference after first home loss of the season.
Game Summary
- Drury struck first in the 29th minute when J.J. Adikwu found the back of the net with a low shot
- The Prairie Stars responded with intensity, creating opportunities with shots from Gabe Smyth, who hit the crossbar in the 6th minute, and Joey Fitzgerald, whose attempts were either saved or blocked by Drury's defense
- Defensively, UIS faced challenges but persevered, with goalkeeper Edoardo Pinna making a notable save on a shot from Marco Donjuan in the 34th minute
- It appeared that UIS would dominate possession throughout the half, but Drury gained momentum, managing to edge them out
- As the half drew to a close, Delphy Sabu received a yellow card for UIS. Just moments later, Drury doubled their lead with a well-placed goal from Carson Morgan, assisted by Abdullah Iqbal
- The Prairie Stars entered the break trailing 2-0, having made solid efforts to close the gap
- The action picked up dramatically in the second half, with three goals scored within the first 15 minutes. A well-taken corner by Joey Fitzgerald found Josh Conrad at the front of the goal, for the first UIS goal of the day
- Four minutes later, Noah Brill slotted a shot into the low left corner, also assisted by Fitzgerald, leveling the score at 2-2
- Drury made it 3-3 in the 59th minute
- Drury retaliated, making it 3-2 in the 59th minute. The Panthers then faced a setback when Carson Morgan received a red card, leaving them with ten players and 26 minutes to play
- Corne Boshoff netted the game-winner in the 71st minute, courtesy of an assist from Joey Fitzgerald, who recorded his third assist of the day and fourth of the weekend
- UIS maintained pressure despite facing additional challenges, including a red card issued to Josh Conrad in the 83rd minute, resulting in a ten-vs-ten matchup
Stats at a Glance
- UIS Goals: 4 (Conrad 51', Brill 55', Fitzgerald 58', Boshoff 71')
- DU Goals: 3 (Adikwu 29', Morgan 44', Iqbal 59')
- Shots: UIS 14 (6 on goal), DU 15 (5 on goal)
- Saves: UIS 2 (Pinna), DU 2 (Meyer)
- Corners: UIS 4, DU 5
- Fouls: UIS 12, DU 15
- Offsides: UIS 2, DU 1
Up Next
UIS returns to Kiwanis Stadium next weekend for a pair of home games. The Prairie Stars will host Missouri-St. Louis on Friday and Lincoln on Sunday.
Around the GLVC
Maryville 2, Lincoln 1
Illinois Springfield 4, Drury 3
McKendree 2, Missouri S&T 0
Lewis 1, Rockhurst 0
Quincy 2, Truman State 0
Indianapolis 2, Southwest Baptist 0
Upper Iowa 2, William Jewell 2