Conway – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team returned to the field on Friday night, hosting the Eastern Illinois Panthers at the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex. The Bears improved to 2-0 on the season, taking down EIU 2-0.

The Bears (2-0) took the lead in the 15^th minute, when Manuel Montal and Tyler Ridener strung a pair of passes together to feed Wes Carson inside the 18 yard box. Carson slid the ball past the EIU keeper and into the left side of the net to put UCA up 1-0.

UCA would extend the lead in the 35^th minute, when Andre De Giorgi redirected a deflected ball to Pepe San Roman, who put it away from 15 yards out put the Bears up 2-0.
"We came out fast," said UCA head coach Ross Duncan. "The first 20 to 25 minutes is probably the best we've played this year, including our exhibition games. We shifted some things defensively, and it worked well. Wes got his signature one goal per game and for Pepe, its awesome for him to get on the scoresheet. He's worked hard to earn playing time as a freshman, so that's big, to have a sophomore and a freshman producing points for us."

Harrison Veith had a huge night in the net for the Bears, earning his first career shutout on the back of nine saves, the biggest of which came on a penalty kick in the 83^rd minute. "If you've got to choose a man of the match, it's an easy choice," said Duncan. "Harrison, a freshman, came up with numerous saves in the run of play, but he also stopped that PK, which is huge. That's not something that you're supposed to do as a freshman starting at keeper in Division I soccer. He defied the odds and made an excellent play on the ball and did exactly what you ask your keeper to do there: he picked a side and he stoned the guy. We're very proud of what he's been able to do so far and we expect big things from him going forwards."

Central Arkansas takes to the road next weekend, travelling to California for a pair of matches. The Bears take on Saint Mary's at 6:00 PM on Friday, before battling San Francisco at 5:00 PM on Sunday. "We're going to give the guys two full days off, which we haven't done yet this year. They need it, because we've asked a lot of them this year, and they've stepped up to the mark every day. It's a big trip, going out to California; we haven't lost, but those teams don't care. It's an opportunity to make a big statement about who we are at UCA."