ELKINS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's soccer team picked up its first ranked win of the season as it defeated 12
th-rated Davis & Elkins, 1-0, Sunday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference contest at Nuttall Field.
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Concord (8-1-2, 7-1 MEC) pushed its undefeated streak to five games, and its unbeaten streak to eight straight games. The win also handed Davis & Elkins (8-1-1, 6-1-1 MEC) its first loss of the season.
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The first half was very evenly matched as both defenses were limiting chances and closing down all the available space. Junior goalkeeper
Iori Tanaka made three saves in the first 45 minutes. Offensively, the Mountain Lions took four shots in the first half with two on frame.
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It was Concord who broke through first just after the halftime break in the 48th minute. Senior forward
Dominique Malhomme chested the ball up to himself and smashed it into the top right corner for a sensational finish—it was the only shot of the second half for the Mountain Lions.
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After taking the advantage, CU dropped back and defended for the remaining 42 minutes. Despite the pressure, Concord's backline only allowed six shots in the second half with two being on goal.
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For the Mountain Lions, it was just the second win in program history against a nationally-ranked team--the other came during the 2024 season versus Charleston.
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Junior goalkeeper
Iori Tanaka tallied five saves in the clean sheet while Malhomme scored his third goal of the year. Other CU players with shots in the game were graduate defender
Raheem Baptiste, junior forward
Lucas Costa and sophomore defender
Adam Leibowitz.
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On Sunday, senior defender
Zakari Messam broke the program record for games played with his 69
th appearance in the Maroon and Gray.
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Concord stays on the road, taking on West Liberty in another MEC contest Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
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