The Concord University men's soccer team dropped their first conference match of the season with a 2-1 defeat to Urbana University.
Concord falls to 2-2 (2-1 MEC) on the season, while Urbana improves to 2-1-1- overall (1-1 MEC)
Concord opened the scoring just four minutes into the first half after
Maximillian Simpson made a darting run down the left wing before taking the ball inside and gliding past several Urbana defenders. Simpson then fired his shot low to the left side of the goal to give Concord the early lead.
Urbana managed to answer just five minutes later after Ben Fitzpatrick lofted the ball into the box from the right hand side of field. Urbana's Mike McFarlane headed the cross into the bottom corner of the net to even the game at one apiece.
Urbana continued to mount the pressure on the Mountain Lions, firing a shot just seven minutes later that forced a save from senior goalkeeper
Mitchell Thompson. Urbana gained the lead in the 31
st minute after a long throw-in by Ben Fitzpatrick found the head of McFarlane again to give the Blue Knights the lead.
In the second half, Concord managed to test Urbana goalkeeper Nathan Jones with shots from freshman forward
Jonathan Hardman and Simpson to force two saves in the first five minutes of action. Hardman then saw his attempt to chip Jones for the equalizer in the 79
th minute go just above the goal.
Overall, Urbana outshot the Mountain Lions 17-5 overall and had the edge in shots on goal as well 7-4. Urbana also held the advantage in corner kicks 9-2.
Concord continues Mountain East Conference play when they travel to Buckhannon to take on West Virginia Wesleyan on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
