Pope's late goal gives CUW a 3-2 win over Marian

MEQUON, Wis.  Concordia Wisconsin built a 2-0 lead over the first 45 minutes and appeared to be in total control of Wednesday's soccer match, but Marian battled back to tie the score before Jacob Pope's header found the back of the net for a 3-2 Falcon win.

CUW dominated statistically from the outset and got first half goals by Keegan Van Dusseldorp (Fr./ Burlington, Wis.) and Pope, both via Diego Campos assists, to build a 2-0 cushion.  The gap could have been wider except for several outstanding saves by Marian's Jameson Hoertner.

Victory appeared secure with CUW owning an 18-8 shot edge at the break while controlling the midfield, but someone forgot to tell the hard-working Sabres. 

Marian's Zach Peltonen tallied unassisted at 55:58 and teammate Denny Mudd blasted home a penalty kick at 66:33 and suddenly the match was tied.

Seven minutes later Campos drifted his corner kick across the brow of Pope at 73:15 and the lanky junior popped it past Hoertner for the game winner.

Tom Saleska's booters owned a 27-11 match-long shot advantage, but let out a collective sigh of relief in improving to 6-1-0 in conference action despite the second half letdown.  Marian fell to 2-4-2 in NAC play.