Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Five different players found their way onto the stat sheet Saturday and SIUE men's soccer stayed perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play with a 4-0 win over Drake at Korte Stadium.
The Cougars got goals from four different players and used a season-high 18 different players in improving to 4-0 in MVC play and 4-6-2 overall. Drake fell to 3-8-2 overall and 1-2 in MVC play.
"I think the thing that has been nice since we've gotten into conference play is that we have had a good balance to our attack," SIUE Co-Head Coach David Korn said. "I was happy to see a number of guys get on the field tonight and do well and I was happy to see a number of guys contribute to our shutout as well as the goals."
Saturday marked the largest margin of victory for SIUE ever in an MVC game. It was the first four-goal game for the Cougars since a 4-1 win over Bradley in 2012.
Justin Bilyeu opened the scoring with his first goal of the year in the sixth minute. Bilyeu took a wide pass from Andrew Kendall-Moullin and then served a ball over Drake goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod from 30 yards away.
Matt Polster made it 2-0 in the 37th minute following a corner kick. MacLeod was able to get his hands on the initial cross, but gave up a rebound in front of goal, where Polster was able to bang it home. Garet Christianson scored his third goal in MVC play less than three minutes later. Christianson took a through ball from Christian Volesky then slid it to the far post from seven yards out to put SIUE on top 3-0 heading into halftime.
"It's good to see how Garet has come on in conference," Korn added.
Volesky capped the scoring with a goal of his own in the 59th minute. Volesky weaved his way through the Bulldog defense and into the penalty area where he lost his footing. The senior regained his balance and control of the ball before tapping in his league-leading seventh goal of the year.
With the goal and the assist, Volesky now has 17 points to lead the Valley in overall scoring.
For the game, the Cougars outshot Drake 15-2. Neither of Drake's shots was on target. SIUE goalkeeper Kent Kobernus earned his third shutout of the year and sixth of his career.
"Tonight we wanted to get a win and we wanted to continue to defend well so to get a shutout was great," Korn said.
Korn also was quick to compliment some of the younger guys who appeared in the game Saturday.
"They shared the ball, they moved the ball, and they made the right soccer decision," Korn said. "They didn't make an individual choice they made a team choice and those things ultimately led to our success tonight."
SIUE takes a two-week break from MVC play while playing a pair of road nonconference games in between. The Cougars next travel to Northern Illinois for a Tuesday night contest.
"One thing I would compliment the guys on is that their training mentality the last week or two has been better and I think that's been a big reason why we've had good performances," Korn said. "Now we have to continue to do that. We have to be just as hungry."
