RIVER FOREST, ILL. – In their third consecutive home game of the year, the Concordia University Chicago men's soccer team hosted their furthest opponent yet in the Caltech Beavers. In a fast-paced and strategic battle, the Cougars would fall 3-0.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Six Cougars picked up shots on the day in Juan Moresco (Mercedes, Soriano), Justin Ocampo (Melrose Park, Ill.), Isaac Hernandez (Crystal Lake, Ill.), Giovanni Lechuga (Monrovia, Calif.), Michael Senese (Naperville, Ill.), and Miguel Figueroa (Chicago, Ill.).
- Two Cougars saw action in the net with Nethan Gudiel (Chicago, Ill.) making the start and Chase Zizak (Muskegon, Mich.) taking over in the second half. Combined the duo had five saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cougars put together a competitive first half after early looks from Lechuga and Hernandez tested the Beavers' defense while Ocampo and Senese later added dangerous chances of their own. Gudiel stayed anchored on the goal line while the Cougar defense stayed tight up the field, leading to multiple Caltech offside offenses. The Beavers were able to slip one into the net to take the lead heading into half.
The Cougars continued to battle hard through the second half, showing resilience and determination despite being down. Gudiel continued to be a monster in the goal and turned away a series of Beaver shots to keep the Cougars within striking distance. The strong Cougar defense helped gain offensive momentum with a dangerous look from Moresco that forced the lone save of the day for the Beaver keeper. With another late strike from Figueroa, the Caltech backline would prove to be sturdy and reject each attempt.
The Beavers would go on to add a few more to the score line and leave the Cougars scoreless on their home turf. CUC will be back in action on Wednesday as they host University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for their final home game in this opening stretch. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
