Box Score Oct. 15, 2014 - The Concordia-Chicago men's soccer team played the first of two straight games away from the home turf this week with a game at Benedictine University in Lisle. The Cougars played well against the Eagles who entered the game 5-1 in conference, but BU keeper Steve Mack was the difference down the stretch as he frustrated CUC on some great scoring chances and led his team to a 2-0 victory.
The two teams tested each other out over the opening minutes, and it was not until 10 minutes in when the game's first scoring opportunity. The Cougars blocked a close-in try by the Eagles' Ante Markotic, and the defense was able to clear the ensuing corner kick. CUC's first good chance came five minutes later when Dylan Pavlisin (Orange, CA/Orange Lutheran) sent a free kick into the center of the box, but the Eagles' keeper leapt above the Cougar forwards to snare the ball in mid-air. In the 24th minute, DeAndre McLaurin (Joliet, IL/Joliet West) did some nice work controlling a pass from the right side and let go a half-volley from the edge of the box, but it sailed high above the far post. The Eagles broke the ice in the 34th minute as the Cougars were unable to clear a loose ball in front of the goal. Nick Kapetanos got his foot to it and poked it into the net for a 1-0 lead for the home team. The slim lead held up for the remainder of the half with Benedictine holding a 10-8 lead in shots.
Early in the second half, the Cougars nearly equalized as Brendan Mullane (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South) made a great run up the middle of the field. However, BU keeper Steve Mack came out to challenge and made the save to keep the hosts in the lead. Mullane's shot would be the Cougars' last one for a while as the Eagles enjoyed an imbalance of time in CUC's zone. However, Jorge Guzman (Cicero, IL/Morton East) kept the Cougars in the game as he made a diving save on Francisco Delgado in the 78th minute. Moments later, the Cougars came down and had a great chance as Joey Malme (Green Bay, WI/NEW Lutheran) shot through a maze of players, but Mack was able to see the ball and make the save. With six minutes to go, Mack made the save of the game as a cross from the right side found McLaurin at the left post. McLaurin made a great diving header, but Mack reacted quickly and got down to block the shot. A follow-up by Fabian Robles (Cicero, IL/St. Joseph) was blocked by a defender as the Cougars were turned away. Concordia's final chance came in the 86th minute as Mullane was denied a second time. Benedictine then put in an insurance goal with 51 seconds left on a scramble in front of the net.
The final shots showed Benedictine with 20 shots to CUC's 14. Mack made six saves to notch the shutout while Guzman made seven saves.
The Cougars (6-5-2, 3-3-0) return to action on Saturday when they play at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
