Box Score

Benedictine University's soccer team handed Moody Bible Institute its first loss of the season on Thursday evening, 1-0, in a non-conference match at The Sports Complex. The win improved the Eagles' record to 3-1 overall, while MBI fell to 4-1.

Under the heading of "better-late-than-never," Benedictine did not tally the lone goal of the match until there were less than three minutes left in the contest (at the 87:04 juncture).

The honors went to freshman Erik Villegas and was the first goal of the season for the former Curie High School product. Villegas settled a centering pass from the near side by fellow newcomer Cesar Martinez and then blasted a shot inside the far post from 15 yards in front.

Visiting Moody Bible actually held a 10-8 advantage in total shot attempts and had a huge opportunity to take the lead itself in the 86th minute when TJ Pearce beat the Eagles' defense and launched a rocket at BU goalkeeper Orlando Esparza. Esparza, however, was more than up to the task in his first shift in goal as an Eagle and calmly punched the ball off to his left to preserve the 0-0 score.

Esparza had two saves - both in the second half - and his MBI counterpart Joel Barber also had a pair of saves (one in each half).