KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) women's soccer team rounded out the week with a road contest against the Hornets of Kalamazoo College. It took the Cougars a bit to find their rhythm and ultimately fell 2-0.
 
Inside the Box

• Naomi Gonzales (Santa Rosa, Calif.), Brooke Sheriff (Simi Valley, Calif.), and Katelyn Wagner (Lagrange, Ky.), all saw time in net this afternoon. Sheriff recorded a season-high eight saves in 36 minutes of action.
• Grace Chavez (Morgan Hill, Calif.) had the lone shot on frame.
• Angelina Barreno (Chicago, Ill.), Erika Flores (Oxnard, Calif.), and Jasleen Grewal (Bakersfield, Calif.) each created an opportunity for themselves up top.

 
First Half

• CUC was immediately put under pressure from the first whistle, but the Cougars' defense was able to limit the Hornets' opportunities to just one clear shot in the first ten minutes.
• However, in the 12^th minute, off a corner kick, the Hornets found the back of the net and went up 1-0.
• Concordia struggled to get the ball out of its defensive end but denied the Hornets another goal.
• Gonzales got the start in net and recorded two saves in the half. One came in the 35^th minute, when a free kick for the Hornets bounced off the crossbar and into the path of another Hornet. Gonzales stood her ground and kept the ball out of the net.
• Sheriff came on for Gonzales in the 38^th minute and recorded three saves, including one just before the end of the half.

 
Second Half

• Just over a minute into the second half, Sheriff had to make a save to deny the Hornets.
• In the 49^th minute, the Cougars had their first opportunity of the game. After winning the ball in the middle of the field, CUC split the defenders to send Barreno through towards net. Her shot missed just wide of the near post.
• Sheriff continued to be a brick wall for the Cougars, saving back-to-back shots in the 57^th minute and then distributing the ball forward to relieve some pressure.
• Unfortunately, Kalamazoo was able to score in the 67^th minute and double their lead to 2-0.
• The Cougars were not deterred and quickly brought the ball downfield. Grewal created a chance for herself in the 70^th minute but missed just wide of the net.
• CUC continued to press up the field and in the 82^nd minute, Flores had her shot blocked. The ball shifted into the path of Chavez, who had her shot saved by the Hornets' goalkeeper, and the Cougars fell 2-0.

 
What's Next
The Cougars begin conference play on Wednesday, September 17. CUC hosted Rockford University at Concordia Stadium with a 2:00 pm kickoff. Coverage for all things CUC women's soccer can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.