Beloit, Wis. – The Beloit College Buccaneers men's soccer team played to an exciting 2-2 draw against Concordia Wisconsin today at Strong Soccer Field. Despite a strong offensive showing and an early lead, the Buccaneers ultimately shared the points in a hard-fought contest.
The Buccaneers (2-2-2, 0-0-0 MWC) got off to a promising start, with Matteo Jijon (Wilmette, IL) netting the opening goal in the 21st minute, assisted by Rafael Cervantes Jr. (Dallas, TX). This early strike put the Buccaneers ahead, showcasing their attacking prowess. Beloit continued to press, creating several scoring opportunities throughout the first half. Goalkeeper David Staats (Meridian, ID) was solid in goal, making four saves to keep the Falcons (1-2-2, 0-0-0 NACC) at bay and preserve Beloit's lead going into halftime.
The second half saw more back-and-forth action. Cervantes Jr. extended Beloit's lead early in the second half, scoring in the 52nd minute with an assist from Marco Jijon (Wilmette, IL), bringing the score to 2-0. However, CUW responded with a goal in the 68th minute, narrowing the deficit. The Falcons then capitalized on a late penalty kick, converting in the 87th minute to equalize the score at 2-2.
The Buccaneers demonstrated a robust defense, with Staats making crucial saves throughout the game. Notable offensive efforts came from Eziah Hernandez (New Mexico) and Cervantes Jr., who consistently challenged the CUW defense.
In terms of statistics, the Bucs recorded 14 total shots, with 5 on target, and earned 5 corner kicks. The team also showed good discipline in the first half with 6 fouls, but ended the game with 13 fouls and 2 yellow cards.
The Bucs start arguably their toughest stretch of the season this coming week, they kick it off by hosting UW-Whitewater at the Strong Complex Soccer Field at 4 pm on Tuesday, September 16th.
