Box Score Aug. 31, 2013 - Looking to get the jump on the new season, the Concordia University Chicago men's soccer team put together a superb opening 45 minutes and rode it to a 3-1 victory over host Manchester University.

"I'm very proud of the way our guys responded against a very tough opponent on their home field," said sixth-year Concordia head coach Micah Middendorf. "You couldn't ask for a better start to a season than what we accomplished today."

Freshman Roberto Aragon (Cicero, IL/Morton East) got the start in goal after an intense pre-season competition at the position. Aragon earned his first "W" making five saves out of the Spartans' 18 shots. "Roberto really stepped up and showed that he could handle the job," stated Middendorf.

Sophomore Brendan Mullane (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South) staked Aragon and the Cougars to a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. Mullane's 15-yard strike was assisted by freshman defender Braulio Balcorta (El Paso, TX/Socorro).

The Cougars kept up the pressure in the attack zone, and their persistence finally paid off in the 30th minute with the second goal. Mullane controlled the ball on the wing before firing a cross directly in front of goal. Taylor Nehmer (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran), returning to the team this year after sitting out the 2012 season, got his head on the ball and nodded it past the Manchester keeper.

Less than two minutes before halftime, the Cougars deflated the Spartans with a huge third goal. The tally came off of Mullane's foot as he took a pass on the left side from Hector Godinez (Indian Head Park, IL/Lyons Township) and fired inside the far post for his second marker of the half.

Manchester came out aggressively in the second half, hoping for a miraculous rally. The Spartans did pull one back in the 63rd minute on Drew Vergonet's strike and peppered the Cougar goal with 13 second-half shots. However, Concordia held firm and stifled the hosts down the stretch to put a seal on the victory.

Concordia will look to make it a 2-0 start to the season as they host Eureka College on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.