Men’s Soccer Falls at Home to Ripon

EUREKA, Ill. – A slow start haunted the Eureka men's soccer team on Saturday afternoon, as they fell to Ripon 4-1. 

The visitors took the lead just 50 seconds into the match, then extended their advantage to 2-0 in the 24^thminute. Five minutes later, the Red Hawks had a chance to make it 3-0 with a penalty kick; however, junior goalkeeper Gabriel Seeber (Champaign, Ill./Champaign Central) delivered a save to keep the deficit at two. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, just five minutes after the saved penalty, Ripon scored again, taking a 3-0 lead into halftime. 

The Red Devils performed much better in the second half, finally pulling a goal back in the 66^th minute when Joyce Kabesa (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) buried a penalty kick into the bottom left corner, cutting the lead to 3-1. Pascal Calonges (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) drew the penalty kick for Eureka. The Red Devils had additional opportunities to close the gap, but they were unable to find the back of the net. In the 89^thminute, Ripon added a fourth, ending any last hopes for the Red Devils.

Ripon outshot Eureka 18-11, with 9 shots on goal compared to just two for the Red Devils. Kabesa and Calonges combined for 7 shots for Eureka, while Seeber made 5 saves in his first appearance in net for the Red Devils this season. 

UP NEXT

Eureka now have a week to regroup before starting conference play on the road against Lyon on Saturday, Sep. 28, at 11:30 a.m.