ST. PAUL, Minn. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team played in the program's inaugural match on Wednesday at Hamline University. After trailing 3-1 in the first half, the Blugolds would complete a historic comeback with three unanswered goals in their 4-3 win.

Box Score

After a successful preseason, Head Coach Casey Holm and company hit the ground running in the team's first ever contest dawning the blue and gold. With a younger team on the field, Eau Claire started the game from behind after a quick Piper goal in the seventh minutes. After two more tallies in the 33^rd minute, UWEC had their work cut out for them and a 3-0 deficit to overcome.

A lucky bounce in the box would bounce off a defender and into the net to open the game for the Blugolds. The opening tally for Eau Claire came in the 36^th minute after the second and third goals from Hamline.

To start the second half, Carter Theisfeld (Fr. – Forest Lake, MN) would cut the lead to one and record the first ever goal scored by a Blugold men's soccer player. Porter Ball (So. – Minneapolis, MN/Academy of Holy Angels) would receive credit for an historic assist.

The offense poured it on later in the second half with ten shots on goal. Matt Folden (Fr. – Marine on Saint Croix, MN) tied the game in the 89^th minute with a header into the Hamline net for a showstopping goal and a tie game. A beautiful service into the box from Evan Wilson (Fr. – Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) would earn him his first assist in his collegiate career.

A 3-3 tie at the 90^th minute would send the teams to overtime and the Blugolds would find a fortunate bounce once again. In the 108^th minute, AJ Johnson (So. – New Richmond, WI) crossed the ball into the box, and it ricocheted off a Hamline defender and past the goalkeeper for UWEC's fourth of the game. The second own goal by the Pipers would be enough for Eau Claire to earn their first win of the season and as a program.

Jakob Leonard (Fr. – Cottage Grove, MN/Park) started the first half for Eau Claire and saved two of the three shots he faced. Spencer Banks (Fr. – Stevens Point, WI/SPASH) came in at halftime and shutout the Pipers for the remainder of the game.

The Blugolds will be back on the road on Friday, September 3^rd when they travel to Loras College. Kickoff is set for 5 pm from Rock Bowl Stadium in Dubuque, IA.

Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.