EVANSVILLE, Indiana - The Marian College men's soccer team opened the 2008 season on the road Thursday night at the University of Southern Indiana. The Knights knocked off the Screaming Eagles, 2-1, to open head coach Sean Bray's second season at the helm.

 

Senior T.J. Rauch (Guilford, Indiana/East Central) scored the eventual game-winner at the 53:54 mark to seal the Knights' victory. Junior Michael Foerster (Ferdinand, Indiana/Forest Park) notched his, and the team's, first goal of the season at the 13:16 mark to give the Knights an early advantage.

 

Rauch's goal held up as the game-winner even after a USI penalty kick at the 85:45 mark was converted.

 

The match started slowly for the Knights as their first shot did not come until the 8:42 mark. Rauch broke free in the box on a breakaway, but was unable to convert the one-on-one opportunity as the goalkeeper was able to throw off his timing.

 

After the majority of possession was in USI's end of the field and an offsides call on the Knights at the 9:09 mark, the team knew it would get opportunities to score.

 

Just four minutes later, Foerster gathered the ball in the offensive third and broke for the box. He was stripped, but was able to regain possession and break into the 18-yard box on the right side. He drew the goalkeeper off his line and drifted a shot inside the far post for the 1-0 lead.

 

Another Rauch breakaway was denied at the 14:52 mark, but the Knights had the lead and outshot the Eagles, 6-4, heading into halftime.

 

The Eagles came out strong in the second half and forced freshman goalkeeper James Dulhanty (Lebanon, Indiana/Lebanon) into making his first significant save. Eight minutes into the second frame came the game-winner.

 

Rauch's goal came off a free kick from 25 yards out with 36:06 remaining in the match. After Rauch drew a foul, junior Gabriel Peters (Marion, Indiana/Marion) ripped a shot on frame and forced the USI goalkeeper into a quick save. However, he spilled the rebound and Rauch was there to tap the ball in to give the Knights the 2-0 lead.

 

USI increased its pressure and finally broke the Knights' back line with 4:15 remaining. A foul inside the 18-yard box gave the Eagles a penalty kick and they converted to make the score 2-1.

 

Just one shot was allowed by the Knights over the final 4:15 to secure the victory and a 1-0 season start. Dulhanty led the Knights with seven saves in his first career start and Foerster scored his second career goal. Rauch tallied his 14th career goal and the assist was Peters' fifth in his two seasons.

 

The Knights continue their road swing when they head to Rensselaer, Indiana, for a battle with the Pumas of Saint Joseph's College on Wednesday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.