BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – A 75
th-minute goal from junior midfielder
Andre Nicholson was enough to propel the Concord University men's soccer team past Salem Wednesday night in a non-conference match at the Bridge Sports Complex.
Both teams got on the board in the first half as sophomore midfielder
Tomas Kelly scored in the seventh minute after receiving a cross near the six-yard box from junior forward
Fabian Amhof. Kelly was able to deposit his third goal in as many games, and his fifth of the year.
The lead held up for Concord (5-2-4) until the final five minutes of the first half when the Tigers (1-8-3) struck for a goal in the 41
st minute.
Each team had ample chances in the second half, including Concord getting back-to-back looks at the goal off corner kicks less than five minutes before the Nicholson goal.
The score from Nicholson came after the CU midfield was able to control the ball and send a pass to freshman forward
Ignacio Alvarez Maina who then shuffled on a pass to Nicholson. Nicholson's goal was a low line drive angling from right to left through the penalty area and into the back of the net.
Concord had to withstand Salem's attack in the final 10 minutes, but the Mountain Lions stout defense stood tall.
CU was outshot in the game, 17-11. Kelly led Concord with three shots while Alvarez Maina and Nicholson each contributed two shots.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Keegan Grant made three of his nine saves in the final eight minutes of the game to secure the victory. Grant's final save came on an SU free kick from 25 yards with less than 20 seconds remaining.
The Mountain Lions play at West Virginia Wesleyan 4:00 p.m. Sunday in matchup of fifth and sixth-place teams in the Mountain East Conference.
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