JOLIET, ILL. – The Concordia University Chicago men's soccer team traveled to Joliet this afternoon to face the Fighting Saints of St. Francis. The Cougars fought for offensive chances and picked up a goal in the second half, but the comeback was cut short by the Fighting Saints, and the Cougars fell 2-1.

Inside the Box
Omar Figueroa (Chicago, Ill.) and Xavier Avila (Berwyn, Ill.) each totaled three shots with two on net.
Kyle Schultz (Pingree Grove, Ill.) and Nethan Gudiel (Chicago, Ill.) split time in goal and each registered two saves.

How it Happened
The Cougars pounced early, earning an early corner kick off a blocked shot by Spencer Nicholson (Fort Collins, Colo.). Elias De Santiago (Chicago, Ill.) and Bernardo Delgado (Morelia, Michoacán) continued to take chances but were blocked by the Fighting Saints. Alexander Lechowicz (Chicago, Ill.) forced the first save of the game, six minutes in. The Cougars continued to press but it was the Fighting Saints who broke the stalemate in the 28^th minute. Schultz made a save just before halftime to keep the deficit at one.

Concordia remained a constant forward threat, creating multiple chances in the opening nine minutes of the second half. Garrett Poynter (Noblesville, Ind.) and Figueroa each forced more saves from the St. Francis goalkeeper. However, the Cougars would go down 2-0 in the 54^th minute. Concordia never gave up and cut the lead in half in the 65^th minute, when Nicholson put the ball in the back of the net. However, the Cougars' rally was cut short and they fell 2-1.

The Cougars next game will be Tuesday September 10 at 3:00 pm. Concordia hosts Kuyper College at Concordia Stadium. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.