EUREKA – The Eureka men's soccer team didn't make it easy on MacMurray Wednesday afternoon, but despite a close battle, the Highlanders came away with a 1-0 victory over the Red Devils in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.

Although the ball only went into the back of the net once in 90 minutes, it was a high-energy contest that gave the Red Devils a boost heading down the stretch of the regular season.

"We didn't get the result we wanted," said senior Michael Hansen (Peoria, Ill./Limestone, "but it was the most fun I've had on the pitch this season."  

The lone goal of the match came in the 43rd minute, when MacMurray's Gustavo Gutierrez flicked a ball over the Red Devil defense, and after a missed clearance, Bryce Etling found the far post to make give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead. The goal stood the rest of the way.

EC's best chance to equalize came in the 50th minute. After a series of quality passes, forward Sam Lin (Seattle, Wash./Chicago Hope Academy) lifted a ball to the head of Hansen, who directed the ball just wide of the frame.

Goal keeper Moises Aldana (Spring Valley, Ill./Hall) came up big in the net for the Red Devils, recording a match-high five saves. 

Om Friday, the Red Devils will be looking to build off their confidence-inducing performance when they take on Greenville in a SLIAC road battle at 3 p.m.