St. Mary-of-the-Woods Sinks Eureka in Overtime, 5-4

EUREKA – James Bowen (Homer Glen, Ill./Seneca H.S.) continued his early-season scoring spree with two more goals Monday night, but a deflected loose ball in the Eureka penalty area just 77 seconds into the first overtime period found its way to the back of the cage in the Red Devils' 5-4 non-league loss to St. Mary-of-the-Woods at McKinzie Field.

Bowen's goals were the 32nd and 33rd goals of his four-year Eureka career, leaving him nine shy of equaling Brian O'Malley's all-time record of 42 set between 2008 and 2009.

Eureka jumped to an early lead Monday thanks to a Michael Hansen's (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) 10th career goal just 3:13 into the match. Logan Hobbs (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) was credited with an assist on the play. Bowen followed with an unassisted tally at 22:36 and the hosts' lead was 2-0.

Aaron Garcia got the Pomeroys on the board on a feed from Ngun Lian at 41:16, but the Red Devils responded on a strike from Mikey Hernandez (Los Angeles, Calif./Metamora H.S.) with just 28 seconds left before halftime. Eureka carried the 3-1 lead into intermission.

Lian allowed the visitors to slash their deficit in half with an unassisted goal at 47:00 and Marcos Hernandez pulled SMWC even at 3-3 with a deep drive inside the near post at 56:51.

The Red Devils pushed back in front at 61:27 when Hansen's service from deep on the right flank found a diving Bowen, who tucked a header inside the post and past SMWC goalkeeper Andrew Aceituno for a 4-3 lead. The Pomeroys recovered to force the overtime period when Jose Parra finished Lian's pass for a 4-4 tie at 80:28.

Garcia created havoc in the 6-yard box in the second minute of overtime, allowing EC's failed clearing attempt to deflect into the net for the match's golden goal.

Eureka will take an eight-day break from match competition before returning to the road on Wednesday, Sept. 26 for a 4 p.m. kickoff at Emmaus Bible.