Cropper, defense lift Men's Soccer to first place in NACC standings

MEQUON, Wis. – Sean Cropper scored 2:54 into overtime and in the process guided the Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Soccer team to its biggest win in recent memory, a 1-0 overtime victory over Dominican University Saturday at Fitting Field. The win was not only the first for the Falcons over the Stars since the 2002 season, but also gave CUW the inside track for a regular season league title.

THE BASICS

- Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 1, Dominican 0
- Location: Fitting Field – Mequon, Wis.
- Records: CUW 12-2-1, 6-1-0 NACC; Dominican 8-3-3, 5-1-2 NACC

FROM COACH SALESKA

Head Coach Tom Saleska on his team's win: "Our team is winning on our defense. Our back four again was tenacious led by Gavin Falotico, Bobby Russ, Jake Barnes, and the split crew of Jake Swihart and Jeremy Jenich. They just refuse to give up a goal and we are scoring opportunistic goals. Alec Brew along with those guys gave us an outstanding defending job. We have a great opportunity as a team but we haven't done anything yet."

HOW IT HAPPENED

- Up until the Cropper (junior - Green Bay, Wis.) scored the game-winner it was all about the defense. The Falcons had a few scoring chances in the first half, including a header that hit the crossbar early in the match.

- Cropper would score 2:54 into the overtime session when he took a cross from sophomore Luis Loya (Bolingbrook, Ill.) and sent it in to push the Falcons to the top of the NACC standings. It was the third goal of the season for Cropper.

- The Falcons outshot the Stars 16-8, including 10-4 in the opening half. Senior Alec Brew (Appleton, Wis.) faced five shots and stopped them all for his sixth shutout of the season.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

- Dominican has been the top program in the NACC era as the Falcons had not won against the Stars since the 2002 season, prior to the NACC being a league.

- Coach Saleska mentioned Brew and the defense and rightfully so. The Falcons haven't given up a goal in over 445 minutes of action. Brews scoreless streak has now run to 400 minutes, his career best.

- The win puts CUW in the driver's seat in the NACC with three matches to go. The Falcons have a one point lead on the Stars, but have played one less league match. Either way, if CUW wins out it captures its first-ever NACC regular season title.

UP NEXT

- The Falcons will play their final regular season home match Wednesday against Marian. It will also be Senior Day at Fitting Field as the Falcons and Sabres are set for a 3:30 start.