JOLIET, Ill. --- The University of St. Francis men's soccer team gave NAIA No. 16-ranked Olivet Nazarene University all it could handle on Wednesday night, but a goal just inside the left post with only 18 minutes remaining enabled ONU to escape with a 2-1 victory on the pitch of Busey Bank Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium.

The goal was the second of two unanswered tallies by the Tigers (9-1-1, 5-0-1) after they fell behind 1-0 in the game's first ten minutes.  Santos Contreras accounted for USF's offense with his penalty kick at 10:27.  Four minutes later, Olivet Nazarene had things back even on Konstantin Papanikolau's goal.

The two first-half shots were the only two on goal between the two teams with the Saints (4-6-1, 2-4) outshooting the guests overall in the opening 45 minutes, 7-3.

Olivet Nazarene responded with a 12-5 total shot advantage in the second half to finish ahead for the match, 15-12.  In terms of shots on goal, the two teams combined for just eight attempts with ONU holding a 5-3 advantage there. 

Olivet Nazarene also held a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Olivet Nazarene's best shot at gaining the upper-hand prior to the game-winning goal came five minutes into the second half when USF goalkeeper Sebastian Mireles stopped one shot with another three Tiger attempts being blocked in a flurry of activity close to the net.  It would be one of three saves for Mireles on the night.

USF's only two chances on goal came just before the four-shot barrage by Olivet Nazarene with an attempt from Anthony Derka and a header by Sergio Fernandez-Arango in the 64th minute.

Fabio Hasler's game-winning goal came eight minutes later with his liner at 72:47 off a pass from Justin Eisenmann.

Olivet Nazarene would get the only other shot on goal the rest of the night in the 83rd minute.  St. Francis managed just two total shots in the closing 19 minutes.

Contreras accounted for three of USF's 12 total shots.  Fernandez-Arango and Ander Santamarta each had two attempts.

Notes: Contreras took over the team lead in goals scored with his seventh of the season on Wednesday.  It also tied him for the No. 4 spot in the league … Five of Contreras' goals have come on penalty kicks … The two points also moved Contreras into a tie with Fernandez-Arango for the No. 3 position in the league in total points with 17 each … The match featured 42 fouls and a total of nine yellow cards and two reds being handed out … The Saints are on the road Saturday to face St. Ambrose University in a 3:30 pm match.    

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