BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Concord University men's soccer team jumped out to a 2-0 lead at halftime and never looked back as it downed Chowan 5-2 to open the season Thursday afternoon in a non-conference, neutral-site contest at Tate Field on the campus of Lees-McRae.
After Chowan (0-1) went down a man in the 29
th minute, the Mountain Lions (1-0) wasted little time taking advantage as senior defender
Ted Roberts threaded a pass to senior midfielder
Malher Santi Possu who buried a 33
rd-minute goal.
The lead remained a goal until in the final 30 seconds of the first half, junior forward
Issa El Assal controlled possession off a throw in and found the back of the net.
Chowan used a near 90-minute lightning delay at halftime to regain composure, and scored the game's next goal with a 47
th-minute penalty kick. But less than two minutes later, senior forward
Richard Henry struck for his first goal of the year to restore a two-goal edge.
In the 57
th-minute, the Hawks used a second penalty kick attempt to get back within 3-2. Once again, CU had an answer with Santi Possu taking a pass from graduate midfielder
Raheem Baptiste and blasting in his second goal of the game. And Santi Possu finished off his second career hat trick in the 79
th minute with his own penalty kick.
The Mountain Lions controlled the pace of play as they outshot Chowan, 20-8. Santi Possu had five shots. Henry and McKree both had three shots in the contest.
CU remains on the road as it opens up Mountain East Conference play at Frostburg State 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
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