CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A late penalty kick by Charleston ended the 2024 season for the Concord University men's soccer team Sunday night in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament at the Welch Athletic Complex.
In the 86
th minute, Concord (15-4-3) saved a potential goal while sophomore defender
Zakari Messam took another potential score off the line. However, in the scramble, a Charleston (19-1-1) player was taken down in the box. The Golden Eagles converted the ensuing penalty kick for the game's only goal.
The Mountain Lions went toe-to-toe with the second-ranked team in NCAA Division II and the top seed in Super Region One.
Five of the nine shots for Concord in the game came in the first half as both junior midfielders
Darian Bradshaw and
Malher Santi Possu both put shots on target in the opening 45 minutes.
After surviving a Charleston wave to begin the second half, thanks in part to a career-best 10 saves by junior goalkeeper
Nathan Scargill, CU's best chance of the second half came off a free kick from junior defender
Ted Roberts to sophomore forward
Ignacio Alvarez Maina in the 69
th minute. But, the header from Alvarez missed the target.
Although it only put the two first-half shots on goal for the game, Concord took nine shots and recorded four corner kicks. And in the minutes leading up to the UC penalty kick, the Mountain Lions were controlling the run of play.
Bradshaw took three shots in the game while Possu registered a pair of shots.
The historic season for the Mountain Lions comes to a close. CU's 15 wins are the most in a single season for the program while the 57 goals that Concord netted were the second most in a single season in program history.
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