Conway – After dropping their last Missouri Valley Conference on a cold evening in Des Moines, Iowa to Drake University, Central Arkansas (5-4-1, 2-1-0 MVC) returned home to the Bill Stephens Complex, using a strong first half to defeat Evansville 3-2 for their second MVC win of the season.
 
The first half ws a roller coaster ride that saw both teams have the lead for durations of the period and five goals scored overall. Moiad Ankir nearly got the Bears rolling in the third minute as his strike from outside the 18 yard box rattled the post. From there would be a 25 minute stint of neither team attempting a shot and battling for possession. The 27th minute saw Central Arkansas earn a penalty kick as Chris Holmes drove into the box and was impeded trying to make a pass by a Purple Ace defender. Niklas Brodacki would step up and bury the penalty into the bottom left corner, scoring his 7th goal of the season and putting the Bears up 1-0.
 
The Bears would nearly double their advantage in the 31st minute when a strike from Niklas Sandquist forced Evansville keeper Frederik Reimer to make his first save of the afternoon. Evansville would equalize a minute later in the 32nd minute off a long throw that was headed home into the left corner by Mathias Nors. The Purple Aces would grab the lead just three minutes later thanks to a long lofted through ball into the path of Filip Johansson who would outrun the Central Arkansas backline and finish from point blank range.
 
It didn't take UCA long to respond however. Holmes would equalize for the Bears in the 41st minute after Kasper Andersen beat his man down the left touchline and squared the ball across goal into the path of Holmes, who buried it from four yards out into the bottom left corner. Not even two minutes later, the Bears regained the lead as Andersen again isolated his man one-on-one at the top of the 18 yard box and was able to cut inside on his right foot and strike it beautifully into the bottom left corner, putting the Bears up 3-2. Andersen's goal would cap off the first half and would be the last goal scored in the game overall.
 
The second half saw UCA create a chance seven minutes in when Jake Bates' effort was saved by Reimer, giving him his second save of the afternoon. Reimer was again called into action in the 65th minute after Brodacki found himself in a one-on-one opportunity. Brodacki's shot was matched by an impressive save from Reimer in which he got down quickly to his right and saved it with his right hand.
 
Central Arkansas keeper Marc Olsen would be called into action for the first time in the 67th minute after denying Logan Muck's effort that was traveling into the bottom left corner. The 75th minute saw the Bears again nearly double their advantage after a set piece opportunity. Daltyn Knutson's effort was initially saved and Alberto Suarez's follow up was saved as well as the score remained 3-2. Brodacki would have one final opportunity to grab the Bears' fourth goal of the match in which he found himself in a one on one opportunity with Reimer again, but Reimer again was able to quickly get down to his right side and deny Brodacki of his second goal of the match.
 
Central Arkansas would go on to win the game 3-2 after an explosive first half and improved to 5-4-1 overall and a 2-1 record in Missouri Valley Conference play. Central Arkansas coach Ross Duncan was happy with the way his boys responded after quickly falling down 2-1 in the first half.
 
"I think we're going to look back on this game as one of the most difficult psychological battles that we've had. We went up 1-0 and it felt like a game that we were going to get two or three goals in the first half. In that situation (falling down 2-1) it's very easy to get frustrated, so for a coach it was massive to see the boys take the game back themselves," said Duncan.
 
The Bears will be home again Tuesday night as they face American Conference opponent Memphis. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.