Eureka Handles Moody Bible on Home Field, 7-1
EUREKA – The Eureka men's soccer team picked up an emphatic 7-1 victory over Moody Bible in the first home match of the season on Wednesday evening.
The last time Eureka men's soccer scored seven goals in a home match was Sept. 9. 2009 in a 9-0 shutout win over Knox.
The win moved the team to 2-1 on the season, marking the Red Devils' first 2-1 start through three matches since 2019. It was also the first home win for first-year coach Ryan Woodside.
Eureka put away four goals in the first half and tacked on three more in the second. Seven different Red Devils found the back of the net for the maroon and gold.
Moody Bible got on the board first following some miscommunication in the back that led to an own goal in the sixth minute. However, Isaac Noriega (Chicago, Ill./Muchin College Prep/Lincoln) delivered the equalizer less than 30 seconds later. Jacob Russow (Streator, Ill./Streator/Lincoln) set him up with a through-ball to the right side, and Noriega took a touch and buried it into the opposite side netting.
Ten minutes later, Troy Arries (Bloomington, Ill./Normal) received a pass from Jake Edmonson (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) in the attacking third and blasted it past the keeper on the left side from 22 yards out.
In the 22nd minute, Khalil Alleyne (Diego Martin, Trinidad/Fatima College/Lincoln) chipped one over the keeper from 23 yards out for the Red Devils' third goal of the match.
Edgar Sanchez-Gravez (Bloomington, Ill./Normal) made it 4-0 with a goal on the attack off an assist by Milan Bajgai (Manchester, England/Swinton/Lincoln) in the last five minutes of the first half.
In the second half, three-year senior Jerry Anderson (El Paso, Texas/San Elizario) recorded his first career goal on a nice strike into the upper left corner from 23 yards out in the 64th minute. Less than four minutes later, Tyler Russow (Streator, Ill./Illinois Valley Community College) connected from 30 yards out to make it 6-1.
The Red Devils' last goal of the night was on a chip over the keeper's head by Jacob Russow from just inside the 18 on the left side. Anderson provided the assist to make it 7-1 with less than 17 minutes to play.`
Eureka outshot Moody Bible 49-2 and placed 26 of its 49 shots on frame. All 26 players on the Red Devils' roster had an opportunity to contribute to the win.
With 18 goals through three matches, the Red Devils' are scoring at an unprecedented pace for the program. Woodside, however, sees plenty of room for improvement, and will be looking for it this weekend when Eureka (2-1) takes on Ripon (0-2-1) on the road Saturday at 1 p.m.
