The men’s soccer team continued to heat up on the way to conference play with a win and a tie this weekend at the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic in Evansville, Ind.

Eastern defeated Stony Brook Friday 2-0 behind goals from former Champaign Centennial High School teammates sophomore midfielder Jonathan Hinds and freshman forward Kyle Bullock.

Hinds scored first in the 36th minute off an assist by junior forward Alex Harrison and red-shirt freshman midfielder Ian McCausland.

“Harrison played a great ball in ,and I kind of one-timed the ball in from the left side,” Hinds said.

Bullock’s goal came late in the second half on a breakaway set up by a long lead pass from freshman midfielder Jerry Maddi.

“(Maddi) played the ball through and the defender tried to kick it, but it got away from him,” Bullock said. “I went down on a breakaway and shot it to the right side through the goalkeeper’s legs.”

Bullock said he normally tries to do some sort of celebration for each goal, but he was so excited he just ran around, jumped and pumped his fists.

Eastern coach Adam Howarth said Stony Brook was a tough, technical team.

“They played well, but we knew we would be able to get in behind them,” Howarth said.

Junior goalkeeper Sean Molony recorded his second consecutive shutout, stopping three shots.

On Sunday, Eastern played Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis to a 1-1 tie.

Howarth said the team played an excellent first half, but lulled in the final 45 minutes and overtime.

“We outplayed them in the first half,” Howarth said. “I think we could have scored four or five goals.

But we came out flat in the second half and overtime periods. I think a tie is a fair result.”

Sophomore midfielder Mike Picinich scored his team-high second goal of the season in the 17th minute. His goal was three yards in front of the goalkeeper on a cross from Bullock.

Harrison was also credited with an assist on the play.

Molony recorded a season-high eight saves in the tie.

Howarth said he made an impressive save in the final minutes of regulation when he went down low on a header. Molony also made a double save in the overtime period.

Eastern had the opportunity to win the match with a penalty kick late in the second half, but senior defender Jeff Kupiec was unable to convert.

Bullock said he was happy with how the team played in both weekend matches.

“Things are really starting to come together now,” Bullock said.

“We are finishing more and playing on the field like we have been in practice.”

Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or dscusack@eiu.edu.