(Ann Arbor, MI) After winning their conference opener against Cornerstone, the Cardinals struggled in WHAC play, losing their next six. On Wednesday, Concordia looked to right themselves against a Cleary side that sat in the middle of the conference tables. Each team scored a pair of goals in regulation, forcing the match into extra time. In double overtime, the Cardinals scored with a man down to earn the 3-2 victory. Anthony Tucker scored his second goal on the day and his second golden goal this season to give the Cardinals their first win since his previous game winner against Cornerstone.
Spencer Ward started in goal for the Cardinals and made 8 of his 10 saves in the first half. Ward was tested early, making a save on a Cleary breakaway in the 9th minute. Anthony Tucker recorded seven shots in the 1st half to lead the Concordia offense.
Cleary struck first in the 24th minute, sneaking past the Concordia defense and ripping a shot top left to give the Cougars the 1-0 lead. CUAA struck back four minutes later, as a cross by Jordan Whitt was headed over the keeper by Steven Soboslay, leaving the net open for Tucker to tap the ball into. Near the end of the 1st half, Cleary was granted a free kick from 20 yards out, but missed just high over the net.
Steven Soboslay put pressure on the Cougar defense early in the second half with several runs that provided scoring opportunities. In the 56th minute Soboslay took the ball into the box and found Felipe Lopez on the left wing. Lopez made a move to defeat multiple defenders and sent a cross in front of the goal. The pass was deflected by a Cougar defender, but Soboslay was there to bury the deflection in the back of the net.
Later on in the half, Cleary earned a penalty kick off of Cardinal penalty in the box. Cleary keeper, Juan Gomez took the PK and beat Spencer Ward for the equalizer.
Cleary had a chance to take the lead with 15 minutes remaining when Danilo Milacic hit an open Darmian Hassan. Hassan snuck the ball past Ward, but the ball hit the post and then went out of bounds, keeping the game deadlocked at 2. The final 15 minutes of regulation were chippy, with both sides earning fouls and ensuing yellow cards.
13 minutes into extra time a ball was sent behind the Cardinal defense and Spencer Ward was forced to go out of the box and get to it before the Cleary attacker. Ward was given a red card as a result, which made Concordia play a man down for the remainder of the match. Marino Moraccini played in goal following the Ward ejection.
With three minutes left in second overtime, Boris Illic sent a ball in from the right wing which Tucker hit off of the charging keeper. The ball bounced behind the Cleary keeper and allowed Tucker to finish off the game with his 8th goal of the season.
Next on the docket for Concordia are the Saints of Siena Heights. The Saints will come to town this Friday for the Cardinal's Senior Day. Kick off will be at 1:00 pm.
