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Concordia University Chicago Athletics

Home of the Concordia-Chicago Cougars

Damian Navas
Josh Prosise, CUC Athletic Communications
0
Rockford ROC (3-2-1, 0-1-0)
1
Winner Concordia Chicago CUC (2-2-1, 1-0-0)
Rockford ROC
(3-2-1, 0-1-0)
0
Final
1
Concordia Chicago CUC
(2-2-1, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Rockford ROC 0 0 0
Concordia Chicago CUC 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Cori Welch, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Late Goal Pushes Cougars to Opening NACC Victory

RIVER FOREST, Ill. – It was a rainy afternoon at Concordia Stadium as the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's soccer team welcomed the Rockford University Regents for the first Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) game of the season. The Cougars had stellar ball movement, created many chances, and a late goal made the difference as CUC won 1-0.
 
Inside the Box
  • The Cougars outshot the Regents 20 to 8.
  • Damian Navas (Chicago, Ill.) scored the Cougars' winning goal, while also leading the squad with seven total shots, three of which were on frame.
  • Ronald Bardales (Zion, Ill.) assisted Navas' goal while amassing two shots on frame of his one.
  • Victor Camacho (Chicago, Ill.) and Alexander Barrera (Chicago, Ill.) each took three shots.
  • Nethan Gudiel (Chicago, Ill.) made three saves.
 
First Half
  • Both teams found their footing, but it was the Cougars who prowled into the attacking third first. The Cougars put the ball dangerously into the box in the 14th minute and Daniel Gutierrez (Chicago, Ill.) got on the end of it but his shot went just wide of the post.
  • Seven minutes later, Navas took a shot from the top of the box, forcing the Regents' goalkeeper to make a diving save.
  • CUC continued to create opportunities for multiple Cougars including Barrera, Camacho, Andre Wangandu (Lansing, Mich.), and Leonardo Pedraza (Waukegan, Ill.).
  • Gudiel recorded a save in the 36th minute to keep the game level. Both squads battled until the halftime whistle, but it remained a stalemate heading into halftime.
 
Second Half
  • Once again, the Cougars were on the front foot, getting multiple shots off within the first 10 minutes of the half. In the 52nd minute, Camacho's shot slid just beyond the post, as CUC continued to press for the opening goal.
  • It became a battle for possession as both teams' defenses kept the opposing offense at bay. As the rain came down, the Cougars remained in control and found a way through in the 63rd and 68th minutes, as Camacho and Bardales forced more saves from the Regents' goalkeeper.
  • Rockford got through the tight Cougar defense in the 72nd minute, but Gudiel easily made the save.
  • On the other end of the field, Bardales and Navas continued to fight for a goal. They were rewarded in the 84th minute. CUC's free kick into the box was punched out by the Regent's goalkeeper. However, it fell to Bardales, whose shot was blocked and deflected towards Navas. Running back, Navas did a 180 spin as he kicked the ball into the upper corner of the net and take the 1-0 lead.
  • The Cougars locked in for the final minutes of the game, as the defense and Gudiel denied the Regents an equalizer. CUC opened up NACC play with a 1-0 victory.

Highlights

 
What's Next
The Cougars will be back in action on Saturday, September 19th, they travel to Milwaukee, Wis. to take on Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)  at 4:00 pm. Coverage for all things CUC men's soccer can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
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