Monmouth Downs Eureka at McKinzie, 3-0

EUREKA, Ill. -- The Eureka College men's soccer team opened the home portion of its 2017 schedule Wednesday night, falling in a 3-0 non-conference final to Monmouth in the Red Devils' first-ever match at McKinzie Field.

The Red Devils fell behind 1-0 on an own goal in the eighth minute when a clearing attempt after a rebound in the penalty area ended up in the back of the net. The visitors managed to double their lead midway through the half at 26:41 when Adam Stenzel finished a cross from Alvaro Alvarez along the turf inside the far post, Stenzel's first tally of the season. Eureka nearly cut its deficit in half after consecutive corner kicks in the waning moments of the period, but a lobbed shot attempt from Tyler Goss (Groveland, Ill./Pekin H.S.) hit the cross bar as time expired. Monmouth led 2-0 at halftime.

Jonathan Spence delivered the only goal of the second half when his twirling shot attempt from the top of the 18-yard box beat a diving Daniel Johnson (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) inside the far post.

Johnson did his part to keep the hosts in the match, making 14 saves and facing a total of 40 shot attempts. Wednesday's save total was his highest since making 14 stops against Robert Morris-Springfield on Sept. 29, 2016.

James Bowen (Homer Glen, Ill./Seneca H.S.) attempted two of the Red Devils' five shots. Bowen's attempt in the 62nd minute was the only shot of the night that reached MC goalkeeper Chase Stroud.

Eureka will return to action next Tuesday at Grace Bible in Grand Rapids, Mich. at 4 p.m.