Holy Names Holds Off Concordia
PORTLAND, Ore. - In a match which featured 35 fouls, it took one goal to separate the squads as Holy Names upended Concordia University 1-0 in the Cavalier home opener at the Yard.
Concordia dropped to 2-2-0 on the season while Holy Names moved up to 2-0-1.
In a hint of things to come, Hawk defender Gary Bansor was written up for a yellow card in the 3rd minute of play on a shove near midfield. The second of five cards issued in the first period and nine for the game, Concordia’s Dan Macaya (Camas, Wash.) received a warning in the 5th minute. Alternating bookings again, Holy Names Alberto Vega was handed a yellow before Macaya was sent off with his second card after a hard tackle near the center line.
Down a player on the pitch, the Cavalier defense allowed Mustafa Celik through the middle where the forward placed the ball into the bottom left of the frame, past a diving Cavalier keeper Garrett Staples (Eugene, Ore.). Setup by teammate Alberto Vega in the 25th minute, the 20-yard strike proved to be the deciding score as the Cavs were unable to find the net despite a balance of players after HNU’s Bansor was taken from the field after being issued a red card in the 52nd minute.
“It was a very unique game in the number of fouls that were called, but that is part of the day,” Concordia head coach Dan Birkey said. “You have to be able to figure those things out.”
Coming off of the bench in the final minutes, Marcus Kirkwood (Arvada, Colo.) provided the Cavs best scoring opportunity with a header in the 86th minute. With a Joey Graham-(Pasco, Wash.) delivered ball from the far right side, the 6-foot-3 Kirkwood tapped the ball from 8 yards out, sailing it just above the opponent’s crossbar.
Staples rejected four shots while playing the full contest in front of the net for the Cavaliers. Andreas Lindstrom recorded the win after collecting six saves in goal for the Hawks. Holy Names accounted for 20 fouls and six of the cautions compared to 15 and three for Concordia.
“We were sleepwalking through the game,” Birkey said. “We have to find someone to take authority on the field.”
The Hawks took 12 shots to the Cavaliers 10 while both teams generated six corner kick opportunities.
The Cavaliers return to the field on Friday, Sept. 7 when they open Cascade Collegiate Conference play at home against Warner Pacific. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at The Yard.