CHICAGO, Ill. – As the number eight seed, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) women's soccer team took on the top seed, Illinois Tech, in the quarterfinals of the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) tournament. The Cougars battled the full 90 minutes, but unfortunately a second half goal made the difference and the Cougars fell 1-0, ending their season.
Inside the Box
First Half
- The Cougars had to defend early, as the Scarlet Hawks picked up two early corner kicks. The CUC defense stood their ground and cleared the ball away.
- A few minutes later in the ninth minute, Hirayama created an opportunity for a shot but it missed to the right.
- Gonzales made two saves throughout the half to keep the game scoreless.
- Hirayama had another chance in the 34th minute but missed high.
- Neither team could make that final push and after 45 minutes, the game remained 0-0.
Second Half
- The Scarlet Hawks turned up the pressure and bombarded the Cougars' box. After a shot hit the woodwork, Gonzales made two strong saves.
- In the 58th minutes, the Scarlet Hawks earned a corner kick and were able to score, taking the 1-0 lead.
- Illinois Tech never relented, continuing to stay in the Cougars' defensive end. Gonzales continued to make save after saves, limiting the damage.
- Unfortunately for the Cougars, the one goal was the difference and they Cougars fell 1-0.
What's Next
This concluded the 2026 women's soccer season. The Cougars finished 6-12-1 overall and 5-6-1 in NACC play. Women's soccer wants to thank all the fans for their continued support throughout the season and look forward to seeing everyone next year. All updates in the offseason for women's soccer can be found on X and Instagram @cucwsoc and at cucougars.com.
