Roos Find Stride in Win over Eastern Illinois

Saturday, October 16

Kansas City, Mo.

7:00 PM

Kansas City

2-6-3, 1-1-1

Eastern Illinois

1-10-1, 1-3-0

Eastern Ill.

Kansas City

Photo by: Ryan Weaver Photography

Roos Find Stride in Win over Eastern Illinois

10/16/2021 9:35:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

KC set a season-high with three goals, including a game-winner by Vlad Jokic

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Men's Soccer posted its highest-scoring output of the season tonight en route to a 3-1 victory over Eastern Illinois. Kazuki Kimura, Vlad Jokic and Seth Kacich all found the net for the Roos in the win.

KEY MOMENTS

3' | The Roos were on the attack early and often, as Ben Andoh sent a volley towards the net, but it was secured by the Panthers' keeper.
10' | In a sign of things to come, Kimura attempted his first shot of the day, taking a long pass from Kotaro Hirokawa and sending a bouncing shot right to EIU's keeper.
12' | Kansas City maintained possession, as Garrett Nevshemal played a pass to Andoh in the box. Andoh sent a touch pass to Kimura, who took one touch and sent the ball rolling into the left side of the goal to put the Roos in front, 1-0.
28' | With Eastern Illinois threatening in the counter attack, Joan Castells tracked the ball from behind and came up with a tackle on the edge of the final third.
38' | Cooper Clark made his first save of the game and immediately sent the ball out to Kimura. Kimura made a move to the middle of the field and sent a through pass with too much behind it towards the box. EIU's keeper came out and attempted to clear the ball, but it bounced off of an EIU defender and came right to Jokic, who made a simple shot to give KC a 2-0 advantage.
53' | The Roos struck again early in the second half, when Hirokawa sent a corner kick into the box, finding the head of Kacich. He rose above the defense and put a bouncing header into the back of the net.
57' | EIU scored its lone goal of the game to draw within two, 3-1.
78' | Hugo Von Reis found space in the counter attack and created a dangerous opportunity, forcing EIU's keeper to make a diving stop.
84' | The Roos' found the back of the net once again when Edson Murguia slid to send a shot in, but he was called for an offside and the goal was disallowed.

STATS TO NOTE

Castells played all 90 minutes for the first time in his Roo career.
Arne Neufang set a career-high with two shots on goal.
Jokic's goal was his team-leading third of the season.
Andoh has now recorded an assist in back-to-back contests.
Nevshemal registered his first-career assist.
The Roos tied their season high in shots on goal with eight.

COACH RYAN PORE, QUOTED

"It was good to be back home and play off the energy of our home fans for once. We wanted to put them under pressure for the first 20 minutes and make them feel uncomfortable, and I thought we were successful throughout the whole first half."
"Unfortunately, I felt like we let our guard down in the second half. It was good to get a goal off a corner kick, but I thought we kind of forgot the ways that were getting us to the box so much. That needs to be cleaned up, for sure."
"(A tough non-conference) schedule prepared us for our conference schedule. You continue to learn those lessons and translate them into wins, and we were able to do that tonight."
"It's always challenging playing teams that are desperate for points, and we're getting to the point in the season that teams need to secure points to get into the conference tournament. Western Illinois got a win today, so they'll have some confidence, but I like our chances in front of our home fans."

UP NEXT

The Roos will take the week off to prepare for another home battle with Western Illinois on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.