Falcons Rally Late to Keep Postseason Hopes Alive

MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin men's soccer team opened the day tied with Concordia Chicago for ninth place in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with nine points at 3-6-0. The Falcons jumped back into the playoff picture with a 5-4 victory over Concordia Chicago to improve to 4-8-2 and 4-6-0 in the NACC. The Falcons are now in seventh place with 12 points.

Things did not look amazing for the Birds to open the match with the Cougars taking a 2-0 lead into halftime.

The Maroon and Gold then added to the issues with a goal in the 67^th minute.

A minute later, freshman Huba Hajdu (Las Vegas, Nev.), put the Falcons on the scoreboard when he rang the ball off the crossbar and in off a cross from freshman Logan Walker (Hartland, Wis.).

In the 73^rd minute, senior Alishan Sharipov (Krasnodar, Russia) snuck past the CUC defense off passes from freshman Harris Burgos (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Huba Hajdu.

The Cougars spoiled the joy in the air on Homecoming with a goal in the 75^th minute.

The Falcons responded with a goal 49 seconds later when junior Carson Kelly (Fond du Lac, Wis.) found Harris Burgos off a free kick from just outside of the 18-yard box.

Alishan Sharipov tied the game in the 81^st minute when he danced past the defender and the sidestep sent the ball into the net in the 81^st minute.

Chaos ensued in the 87^th minute when Logan Walker scored with a shot to the far corner off an assist from a header from senior Remy Stafford (Chicago, Ill.) and a corner kick from Carson Kelly.

The Falcons blitzed the Cougars with a 17-9 margin in shots in the second half to hold a 22-18 advantage in shots on Saturday.

Junior Enrique Torres (Eau Claire, Wis.) earned the victory with seven saves and junior Jeremy Munoz (Milwaukee, Wis.) had five saves in the start.

Saturday is the first comeback from a three-goal deficit since Oct. 4, 2017. CUW trailed Wisconsin Lutheran 4-1, before storming back to win 5-4. That victory was also the last time that CUW has won while allowing four or more goals.

The Falcons return home on Wednesday for a non-conference battle against Elmhurst.