Hansen's Heroics Lift Red Devils Over Emmaus Bible, 2-1

EUREKA, Ill. -- Eureka College sophomore Michael Hansen (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) netted the equalizer for the Red Devils in the 83rd minute and later delivered the golden goal just 3:03 into the first overtime period to send EC to a 2-1 non-conference victory over Emmaus Bible in overtime, Thursday afternoon at Traister Field.

Eureka trailed for a large portion of the match after Emmaus advantage of a 34th-minute penalty kick. Carson McBain was taken down by an EC tackle in the penalty area and deposited his ensuing opportunity for a 1-0 lead. The Eagles led 1-0 at halftime.

The Red Devils had a handful of opportunities in the second half, including a shot from Brock Musoiu (Carbondale, Ill./Carbondale H.S.) that was saved by EBC goalkeeper Gabriel Salinas at 68:01. The hosts finally found the equalizer at 82:28 when Hansen took a feed from Tyler Goss (Groveland, Ill./Pekin H.S.) and beat Salinas for a 1-1 tie. The play marked the first career assist for Goss.

The Eagles got three more shot attempts and a corner kick in the final four minutes of regulation, but Eureka's Daniel Johnson (Eureka, Ill./Eureka H.S.) turned aside a pair of shots on target to preserve the tie and force overtime.

After EBC's Mason MaCarl fired a shot over the top of the frame early in the 93rd minute, Eureka quickly countered with the match-winner. Hansen raced up the middle of the pitch, beat the Emmaus back line and Salinas and found the back of the net for the second time on an assist from Brady Thomas (Mount Pulaski, Ill./Mount Pulaski H.S.) at 93:03.

Johnson was solid in goal for EC, making 12 saves and extending his own all-time school record with 15 goalkeeper victories. He has 258 career saves, second-most all-time at Eureka and 35 shy of matching Tyler Mumm (2010-13) for the all-time record of 293 stops.

The overtime victory was Eureka's first since topping MacMurray 3-2 at Traister Field on Oct. 3, 2012. Hansen's strike was also the second-fastest golden goal in program history behind Cody Halstead's winner against Rockford that took just 64 seconds on Oct. 14, 2010. The Red Devils are now 3-6-3 all-time in overtime matches.

Eureka will begin St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action this Saturday at 1 p.m. against Fontbonne in St. Louis, Mo.