Box Score Oct. 26, 2013 – The Concordia University Chicago men's soccer team hosted the final home game of the season on Saturday. A hard-fought battle between the two rivals turned on two second-half goal by the Falcons as the visitors got the result by a 2-0 score.
Prior to the game, they celebrated the five seniors and their contributions to the team on and off the field. "The program is grateful to these five individuals for all they have put in to build the program to where it is," said head coach
Micah Middendorf. "They have set a base for the program to grow from because of their dedication and hard work over the past four years."
The first half saw the Cougars hold the Falcons scoreless. The Falcons had a number of chances in the first 30 minutes as they pressed the field, but freshman
Braulio Balcorta (El Paso, TX/Socorro) and keeper
Roberto Aragon (Cicero, IL/Morton East) held firm along with an active team effort. In the final part of the half, the Cougars turned the advantage. It started with a one-on-keeper by
Brendan Mullane that just went off the left post in the 28
th minute. One minute later,
Dylin Pavlisin hit a trademark free kick that was headed smartly by
Victor Crouch (Gibson City, IL/H.S.). Unfortunately, the Falcons keeper alertly pushed the header wide with his fingertips. The Cougars pressed their advantage for the remainder of the first half to no avail.
Fighting for their NACC tournament lives, the Falcons came out early in the second half and scored the go-ahead goal in the 47
th minute when Keegan Van Dusseldorp finishied a ball from a scrum in front of the Cougar's goal. Nine minutes later, the Falcons struck again as a through ball to Diego Campos broke down the Cougars defense.
The Falcons outshot the Cougars 33 to 10. Goalkeeper
Roberto Aragon had 14 saves in the match including a tremendous reaction save that he parried wide of the net near the end of the second half. The CUW keeper had four saves.
The Cougars will play their final game of the season Tuesday at Rockford University.
