SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking loss, falling to the University of Southern Indiana (USI) during Sunday's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchup.

Sean Rickey converted a goal with 20 seconds remaining in the first overtime to lead the Screaming Eagles (4-5, 2-5) to a 2-1 victory over the Prairie Stars (5-4-1, 5-2-1).

The Screaming Eagles created a turnover during the third minute. Cesar Alba found Eric Ramirez in transition and Ramirez contributed a goal to give USI a 1-0 lead.

USI saw two more close opportunities to add to the lead in the first half. Justin Brooks had a shot saved in the 37th minute and Shane Shelton came up empty with his scoring opportunity, one minute later.

The Screaming Eagles held the Prairie Stars to two shots and one shot on goal in the first half.

"We started terrible [on Sunday]," UIS coach Adam Hall said, "It was probably the worst first half we've had this season."

The Prairie Stars brought a more aggressive attack to the pitch during the second half. Rhys Wallace took a free kick during the 55th minute that was rejected by USI goalkeeper Adam Zehme. During the 58th minute, Naba Alzhyri drove across the field and delivered a left-foot shot, but Zehme came up with the save. USI retaliated 59 minutes into the match when Adam Newman fired a one-timer but UIS goalkeeper Tommy Geile recorded the save. The Prairie Stars came close to tying the match on a transition opportunity during the 78th minute. Will Teichman drilled a shot on a break, but the shot struck the crossbar.

As time was winding down, Josh Moore fed Fernando Sanz de Galdeano a baseline pass. Sanz de Galdeano redirected the ball into a narrow window that Zehme was unable to close in time. The Prairie Stars evened the match at 1-all with 1 minute, 13 seconds remaining in regulation.

"Give credit to our guys who clawed their way back into the game."

UIS had an opportunity to break the tie in the first minute of the overtime period when Edward Rose produced a header ended up high.

The two teams went back and forth up until the final minute in overtime. During the 100th minute, Ramirez was able to receive a pass while remaining onsides. He fired a shot that struck the post. Rickey rebounded the shot and netted a goal for the win. Ramirez was credited with the assist.

The Screaming Eagles outshot the Prairie Stars by a 17-to-14 margin.

Zehme rejected seven of the eight shots he faced while Geile faced 10 shots and collected eight saves. Geile and Zehme served as their team's goalkeeper for 99:40.

Sanz de Galdeano notched the first goal of his career while Moore dished out an assist. Rose added two shots on target while the Prairie Stars received shots on goal from Sanz de Galdeano, Alzhyri, Wallace, Mario Falsone, Javier Milla and Alex Zarco.

Ramirez and Rickey each connected on goals while Alba and Ramirez each recorded an assist. Among GLVC leaders, Rickey is tied for second in goals (5) and tied for sixth in points (10). Rickey is also one of three people in the conference with three game-winning goals this season.

"I'm disappointed we couldn't get the winner; we had plenty of chances. We are still growing as a group and this was another learning opportunity."

The Prairie Stars conclude the weekend in fifth place in the GLVC standings. UIS continues its GLVC season with two road matches next weekend. The Prairie Stars battle Bellarmine University (5-4, 3-4) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (ET). UIS wraps up the weekend by taking on the University of Indianapolis on Sunday at 12 p.m. (ET) in Indianapolis, IN. Indianapolis is currently second in the conference standings and is receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA Division II poll.

PRAIRIE STAR NOTES

Geile is currently tied for second in the GLVC with an .818 save percentage.