RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- In an evenly matched affair, the Concordia-Chicago men's soccer team displayed a gritty effort this afternoon against Marian University to ultimately pick up the 2-1 win. With the win, CUC improves to 6-6 on the year and picks up its sixth win in a season for the first time since 2015.
Opening up the match, the Sabres controlled the majority of the possession, out shooting the Cougars 11-8 in the first frame. Despite the Marian pressure though, the Cougars would earn a penalty kick in the 16th minute. However, Sabre keeper Kevin Cervantes would come up clutch with the kick save and keep the game at a scoreless stalemate.Â
With both teams struggling to find the back of the net, Marian's Chase Hayden would finally break free and cut through the middle of the field to earn a near-breakaway opportunity with about three minutes to go in the half.
Trailing 1-0, CUC wasted no time answering back as the Cougars would earn a corner kick opportunity the very next minute. With a service from
Austin Montejano, a scrum developed in front of Marian's net, as
Gerardo Medina was able to knock the ball in and equalize the score at one goal apiece heading into halftime.Â
Coming out of the break, both teams would return to the pitch working aggressively. Eventually, in the 73rd minute, CUC's
John Walsh gained control of the ball on the far side and sent a cross that
German Tinoco knocked in, mid-slide, to net the game-winning goal. For the second game in a row, Tinoco and Walsh have collaborated on scoring the eventual game-winner.Â
While netting the game-winner with 17 minutes remaining, the Cougar defense came up big, stopping three, threatful Marian shots down the stretch.
Jose Retana finished the day with nine saves.
Concordia-Chicago will return to the pitch this Wednesday for a midweek match up against Illinois Institute of Technology.
