Cavs Complete Comeback Win Over UBC
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Down a goal after the first period and a player late in the match, the Concordia University men’s soccer team rallied with a pair of late goals for a 3-2 win against British Columbia at Wolfson Field.
With the win, Concordia improved to 2-1-1 on the season.
In the 7th minute, sophomore forward Tyler Camp (Vancouver, Wash.) opened the game’s scoring with a boot from the right side of the box and past the Thunderbird goalkeeper. On the play, Camp settled an incoming pass by junior defender Scott Bernards (Gresham, Ore.) who was credited with an assist on the play.
Nick Poole evened the match with a finish after a loose-ball scramble in the 23rd minute, pushing the ball past Concordia keeper Garrett Staples (Eugene, Ore.) for the score.
In the waning minutes of the first period, British Columbia took its first lead of the day with a Ben DeCrosse strike from 12 yards out and into the lower right of the net.
Already down a goal, the Cavaliers were dealt a blow when Bernards was sent off with a second yellow card after a tackle in the 64th minute. Down a player, Alex Ponce immediately responded on a solo effort in the 65th minute. Picking up the ball 30 yards for the goal, Ponce dribbled past the UBC defense and snuck a shot through on a low hard shot to balance the game at 2-2.
Holding off the Thunderbirds for more than 20 minutes, the Cavaliers battled back for the game winner in the 89th minute of play. Off of a deflection, Bryan Iotte (Auburn, Wash.) connected with a booming 30-yard strike that sailed into the upper right side of the net to stake a Cavalier lead with regulation winding down.
“Ponce worked some magic and Iotte just went after it to get a beautiful shot off,” head coach Dan Birkey said. “It was a good win for the boys against one of the top Canadian clubs.”
Staples played the full match in goal for the Cavaliers, recording three saves in for his first win of the season.
“I’m really proud of how the team stayed organized,” Birkey said. “When we went down a player, our guys didn’t drop their shoulders and to do that on the road against a tough opponent was a very good statement.”
Concordia returns to the field on Monday, Sept. 3 with the team’s home opener against Holy Names University. Kickoff is set for noon at The Yard.