Red Devils Fall on Opening Night at Faith Baptist Bible, 3-0

ANKENY, Iowa – The Eureka College men's soccer team began its season on an opponent's home pitch for the first time since 2013 and just the fifth time in program history on Friday, dropping a 3-0 non-conference score to NCCAA Faith Baptist Bible in Ankeny, Iowa.

Jordan Schmidt netted the match-winner at 15:49 for FBBC. Eureka nearly tied the contest moments later, but a drive from Eureka's James Bowen (Homer Glen, Ill./Seneca H.S.) hit the post in the 18th minute. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the hosts until halftime.

Moments after the Red Devils were unable to take advantage of back-to-back corner kicks, the Eagles doubled their lead to 2-0 when Oleg Orlov scored at 68:28 for a 2-0 lead. The hosts put the match out of reach less than four minutes later when Andrew Baldwin finished a feed from Caleb Sturgis for a 3-0 cushion in the 72nd minute.

Eureka finished the match with 11 shot attempts, but only two landed on target. Senior Brady Thomas (Mount Pulaski, Ill./Mount Pulaski H.S.) paced the visitors with five shot attempts, followed by Bowen with four. Goalkeeper Daniel Johnson (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) made seven saves.

Following nearly two weeks off from game competition, Eureka will begin the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The non-conference match against the Fighting Scots will take place at McKinzie Field, Eureka's first home match on FieldTurf under the lights in the 11-year history of the program. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.