Eureka Draws at Blackburn, 1-1

CARLINVILLE, Ill. – A pair of late goals resulted in a 1-1 draw for the Eureka men's soccer team at Blackburn on Wednesday.

The Red Devils and the Beavers played to a scoreless tie for more than 83 minutes. But, in the 84th, Blackburn played a corner kick into the box and the ensuing scramble to clear the ball led to a referee's whistle and handball call on the Red Devils.

Hayden Reese stepped up for the penalty kick and buried it into lower left corner to make it 1-0 with less than six minutes to play.

Three minutes later, Eureka striker Khalil Alleyne (Diego Martin, Trinidad/Fatima College/Lincoln) stole the ball in the middle third on Blackburn's side and set up the equalizer. He dribbled downfield and passed the ball into space on his left side for Jacob Russow (Steator, Ill./Streator/Lincoln). Russow took a couple quick touches, squared up and successfully chipped it over the keeper's head and into the opposite side netting. It was Russow's third goal of the season.

After that, the Red Devils continued to push for the match-winner until the end, but it didn't materialize.

Eureka finished with six shots on goal to Blackburn's five. Alleyne had two of EC's six; Isaac Noriega (Chicago, Ill./Muchin College Prep/Lincoln), Raphael Mungu (Bloomington, Ill./Normal), Jacob Russow and Jake Edmondson (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) each had one.

The result moved Eureka to 4-7-2 on the season and 2-5-2 in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The Red Devils remain sixth in the league standings – still ahead of Blackburn (1-4-4) and Spalding (1-4-3).

The maroon and gold will next host Spalding in SLIAC play at McKinzie Field on Saturday at 2 p.m.