(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert men’s soccer team lost a non-conference game to Stanton University this afternoon 5-2 in a non-conference game at Legacy Sports Park. The Buccaneers fall to 5-7-4 on the season
With an important game in two days against Embry Riddle with postseason ramifications, Park Gilbert head Jonas Tanzer sat his normal starters today to avoid injury and to rest ahead of the Thursday all important contest.
The Bucs got on the board first as Liam Braglaid a shot on goal which was deflected by Fighting Elks goalkeeper Jafar Chehade but Ilan Rodriguez-Roda was there and headed the rebound past Chehade for the opening tally
But Stanton kept applying pressure on the Bucs defense, including earning an early penalty shot which was saved by Bucs netminder Zac Stephenson. The Elks kept the forward pressure and tied the game with 10 minutes left in the first half and that is how they went into the half.
The second half saw Stanton jump on the Bucs with three goals, including another penalty kick in the first 17 minutes to take a 4-1 lead. Senior Austin Murray cut the lead to two as he scored his first goal of the season on a corner kick which deflected off an Elks defender and into the goal.
The Elks finished the scoring with six minutes to go with the 13th of its shots on goal for the game.
The Elks had 17 total shots to 12 for the Bucs of which eight were on goal. Stanton had six corner kicks to four for the Bucs. The Bucs had 11 fouls to seven for Stanton. There were three yellow cards handed out, two for Stanton, one for Park.
Up next for Park is its final regular season game against conference rival Embry Riddle as they attempt to make the postseason for the first time in the programs three-year history in the Cal Pac. The program has been around for five years but has only been eligible for the postseason the past two years. The Buccaneers control their destiny. A win or a tie puts them in the postseason, a loss and they will need help in other games around the conference.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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