Beavers Score Three for Victory at CUC

RIVER FOREST, IL -- Blackburn College Men's Soccer visited Concordia University Chicago Tuesday afternoon and scored three unaswered goals to take the 3-1 victory in nonconference action. 

Sophomore Grant Eugea led the way with two goals. After the hosts scored, Blackburn attacked the net and freshman Abner Portillo took a shot that was deflected by a Cougar defender. Eugea was able to beat the CUC goalkeeper to the ball, putting the ball over the diving keeper into the top right corner for his first goal this season. 

After his goal in the 23rd minute, he followed it with another goal less than five minutes later. After a goal kick by CUC, freshman Nathan Soto stole the ball from a CUC player and passed ahead to a streaking Eugea. Eugea let the ball bounce one then booted it over the jumping keeper and placed it right in the top middle of the net to give BC a 2-1 lead. 

In the second half, Soto added an insurance goal in the 52nd minute. after making a save, sophomore goalkeeper Leandro Triano tossed the ball to sophomore Brayden Smith along the left sideline. Smith dribbled up the sideline then passed ahead to Soto who got past the CUC defense and beat the Cougar keeper 1 on 1 with a ball kicked low into the middle of the net for his first of the season. 

Blackburn outshot CUC 25-11 with sophomore Fredy Paiz pacing the team with eight shots and Eugea adding six. The duo both finished with four shots on goal. Soto chipped in with three while senior Henry Ibarguen-Londono and sophomore Johnny Perla both contributed two. 

Triano finished the game with seven saves. 

With the win, the Beavers are now 2-1 and continue their season-opening road trip with a match Saturday at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy.