CHICAGO, Ill. – The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's soccer team took the short trip to Chicago to face Illinois Tech. Despite a strong performance from Chase Zizak (Muskegon, Mich.) in goal, the Cougars fell to the Scarlet Hawks, 3-1.
 
Inside the Box

• Zizak recorded a career-high six saves, playing the full 90 minutes for the Cougars.
• Justin Ocampo (Melrose Park, Ill.) scored the Cougars' lone goal and placed both his shots on frame.
• Caleb Kale (Moline, Ill.) led the offensive charge with three shots while Juan Moresco (Mercedes, Soriano) and Giovanni Lechuga (Monrovia, Calif.) each recorded a pair of shots.

 
First Half

• The Cougars got the early attack with Kale recording the first shot of the game in the sixth minute, as CUC worked its way up the field. Illinois Tech quickly came back down the field and notched a shot of their own. A bit of a back-and-forth battle ensued for the next few minutes before the Scarlet Hawks found the net in the 11^th minute and took a 1-0 lead.
• CUC wasn't deterred and continued to put pressure on the Scarlet Hawks. In the 19^th minute, the Cougars made their way down the left sideline. The ball was slotted to Asael Castaneda (Bensenville, Ill.) who had space at the top of the box, but his shot bounced off the crossbar to deny the Cougars.
• In the 23rd minute, Lechuga hit one low to the bottom corner of the net forcing Illinois Tech's goalkeeper to make a diving save and give CUC a corner kick. Off the kick, Andre Wangandu (Lansing, Mich.) tried his luck but missed just wide of the net. Just a few minutes later, Moresco had his shot denied by the Scarlet Hawks' goalkeeper.
• The Scarlet Hawks took control for the next ten minutes or so, but Zizak stood firm, denying Illinois Tech a chance to extend their lead. The Cougars were able to create one last chance for the half, in the 40^th minute. Lechuga found Kale on the wing, who then cut in and tried to sneak one into the back post, but Illinois Tech's goalkeeper was able to hold onto it.
• Zizak was busy late in the half.  With just over six minutes remaining, Zizak used his skills and vision to see through the traffic at the top of the box and stop the shot from the Scarlet Hawks. Two minutes later, Zizak came storming out to kick away a dangerous through ball from Illinois Tech that would have left the Scarlet Hawk forward one-on-one with him.
• Unfortunately, in the 42^nd minute, the Cougars couldn't get the ball out of the box and the Scarlet Hawks capitalized to go up 2-0.

 
Second Half

• Ocampo didn't waste any time, getting a foot on Moresco's free kick into the box, but the ball fell into the goalie's hands. Michael Senese (Naperville, Ill.) followed up with a shot but missed high of the net.
• The two teams battled back and forth, neither getting a clear shot until Zizak made a diving save in the 55^th minute. The Scarlet Hawks kept knocking on the door and eventually found the back of the net for a third time in the 62^nd minute.
• CUC never gave up and continued to get shots off with Moresco and Kale. Then in the 74^th minute, the Cougars earned a free kick and Giovanni Velasquez (Cicero, Ill.) stepped up to take it. He saw the opportunity and blasted the ball on frame but found the hands of the Scarlet Hawks' goalkeeper.
• The Cougars were rewarded at the end of the game with a penalty kick, after Ocampo was taken down from behind in the box. Ocampo easily put the ball into the net, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in the 84^th minute. However, as time expired, the Cougars fell 3-1.

 
Highlights

Ocampo puts us on the board! pic.twitter.com/VfWA2DPxZZ

— CUC Men's Soccer (@cucmsoccer) September 25, 2025

 
What's Next
The Cougars continue NACC play on Saturday, September 27. CUC will travel to Plymouth, Wis. to take on Lakeland University. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm. Coverage for all things CUC men's soccer can be found at cucougars.com