RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Lakeland University men's soccer team received a little help from its opponents in the form of an own goal late in the game, propelling the Muskies to a 1-0 victory Saturday afternoon in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match.
Lakeland continued the best start in its varsity program history, winning for the eighth time in 11 matches to improve to 8-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the NACC. The Muskies have reached eight wins in a season for the first time since 2013, and are one win from tying the program's record of nine wins set back in 1994.
Lakeland controlled play in the match with a 21-14 advantage in shot attempts, including a 12-4 lead in that category in the first half. The teams were still tied in the 75th minute, though, when Lakeland turned a long goal kick by
Ali Faiad (
Fr.-Tampa, Fla.) turned into a quick attack.
Faiad's kick bounced after being contested by players from both teams and went to
Woodlens Frederic (
Fr.-Green Bay, Wis.), who then passed ahead to
Porter Gigstead (
Jr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.). A CUC defender poked the ball away but to Frederic on the left wing, who then sent a ball into the box towards teammate
Colin Davis (
Fr.-Chesterfield, Mo.). A Cougars defender cut in front of Davis to head the ball away but instead headed it past goalkeeper Nethan Gudiel and inside the right post for the first goal of the match.
The Muskies still weren't out of the woods, as Concordia (2-5-1 overall, 1-3 NACC) shortly after got off three shots in a span of less than two minutes. Lakeland held on, though, with
Austin Eigenberger-Vahsholtz (
Jr.-Grafton, Wis.) heading away a ball served in and then clearing it past midfield, forcing CUC to reset in the final seconds. A last carry down the left side was kicked off a Cougar out of bounds by
Cris Maschio (
Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.), allowing time to run out.
The Muskies finished with 21 shots but had trouble finding the goal, with just six shot attempts on goal, including the own goal.
Isai Gil (
Jr.-Beaumont, Calif.) had three shots on goal in the game and Davis had an attempt in the first half ticketed to the goal that was turned away by a Concordia defender.
Faiad made four saves for his second shutout of the season. Gudiel made four saves for CUC, which lost its third straight match after opening NACC play with a 1-0 win over Rockford University.
Lakeland is back home on Wednesday and also will celebrate Senior Night when it welcomes Wisconsin Lutheran College for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
