RIVER FOREST, ILL. – In a battle of two teams chasing their first win of the season, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars took on the Carthage College Firebirds, falling 2-0 in a hard battle.
 
INSIDE THE BOX

• Two Cougars saw time in the net with Naomi Gonzales (Santa Rosa, Calif.) making the start and picking up five saves while Katelyn Wagner (Lagrange, Ky.) made her season debut and picking up four saves.
• Erika Flores (Oxnard, Calif.) led the offensive charge once again with three shots, two on goal, while playing in 64 minutes on the day.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF

• The Cougars kicked things off and had the opportunity to strike first with a corner kick, but a solid shot from Flores would be deflected and give the Cougars a second corner within the first two minutes. A shot from Mia Hirayama (Mililani, Hawaii.) would miss high. The Firebirds would counter with a shot and corner kick for themselves, but back-to-back saves from Gonzales would keep things blank.
• The Cougars would utilize their deep bench and make four substitutions in a matter of five minutes that would put fresh legs in. The Cougars would see their next shot opportunity off a throw in on the far side where Jasleen Grewal (Bakersfield, Calif.) would boot the ball from 30 yards out with her left foot, but would find the hands of the Firebird's keeper.
• Some back-and-forth in the midfield would be broken up by a CUC corner kick where Morgan Burnap (Strafford, N.H.) would take it from the far side, but with no Cougar able to make a play, hand things right back to the Firebirds.
• With less than ten minutes to play, the two teams continued to battle in a stalemate before a free kick for the Firebirds would put the pressure on the Cougar defense as a seemingly promising opportunity for Carthage presented itself. The Cougar defense was able to clear the ball, but for no need as the offside flag went up.
• The Firebirds continued to pressure and a long ball in that resulted in a collision with Gonzales would be cleared away by the Cougars. With Gonzales trying to get back in position after the collision, the Firebirds would send a shot in from 30 yards out, where Gonzales would get hands on it and deflect. With Carthage now having a corner kick on the nearside, a give-and-go attempt would be broken up by Stacey Maskery (Alfreton, England) and Lorenza Mendoza (Murrieta, Calif.).
• The last shot of the half for the Cougars would come at the foot of Maskery who would make a run on the near side of the field off a perfectly placed feed from Quetzalli Arteaga-Vazquez (Harrisonburg, Va.). With Maskery cutting back to the right, a shot with her right foot would sneak under the arms of the keeper, but just miss far post.
• Concordia and Carthage would go into the half level at zero apiece.

SECOND HALF

• The Cougars would take control the second half where an early yellow card for the Firebirds would give them the opportunity to strike first on the set piece. The long ball in from the 40 yard line would give CUC a corner kick opportunity where a left-footed shot would be blocked and send things back toward the Firebirds' goal.
• Carthage would put up the first goal of the game off a batted around corner kick and take the early 1-0 lead. CUC would try to counter with another Flores shot, but the Firebirds would lockdown and reject the shot.
• The two would go back-and-forth until Carthage would find space and send a strong shot toward the bottom left corner, but Wagner would make the diving save and keep the score at 1-0.
• Carthage would remain relentless and off a corner kick, a batted around ball, with one save from Wagner, would sneak through and top the Cougars 2-0.
• CUC would be unable to put any goals of their own on the board and close out in the 2-0 deficit.

 
 
The Cougars will be back in action on Friday as they host University of Dubuque for a 3:00pm kickoff. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.