Men's Soccer Drops WHAC Matchup to Lourdes

(Howell, MI)-- Two 2-1 teams in the WHAC met Wednesday evening at Lake Trust Stadium, but it would be the visiting Lourdes Gray Wolves that would hand the Cleary Men's Soccer team the defeat after a high scoring game.

Lourdes struck first in the 15th minute, as a free kick made it's way into the box, and then passed goalkeeper Felix Robert to give Lourdes a 1-0 lead.  The Gray Wolves would control much of the first half before Cleary grew into the game in the final ten minutes of the opening half.  Atario Brown would get behind the Gray Wolf defense down the left hand side, cut into the middle, and laid off a pass to a wide open Callum Johnson who was streaking down the right.  Johnson would fire his shot into the net, and the game would be tied 1-1.  

Cleary came out in the second half with a fire having been lit, and after drawing a foul in a dangerous spot just outside the penalty area, the Cougars drew up a play to give themselves the lead.  After the free kick from Oscar Clarke, Callum Johnson poked the ball towards the middle of the penalty area, where Jack Heald sent a pass out wide to Atario Brown, who then took his shot and scored, giving the Cougars a 2-1 advantage.  Lourdes would equalize in the 60th minute on a similar play, where the ball pinged around the box, but no Cougar could clear it, and the score would become 2-2 with just over thirty minutes to play.  Lourdes would retake the lead in the 68th minute after a penalty was called against the Cougars, which the Gray Wolves converted to make the score 3-2.  Desparate for a tying goal, Cleary pushed their numbers forward, and with numbers in the box and on a free kick, Cleary had their chance, but the shot would not come off clean, and Lourdes would counter.  On the counter, Cleary was put into a 2 on 1 defense, with Lourdes' first shot hitting the crossbar, but fell to the other Gray Wolf, who made the Cougars pay to finish off the game with a 4-2 final score.

Felix Robert made 6 saves in his Cleary debut, and falls to 0-1 on the year.  Lourdes outshot Cleary 19-8 in the game, while the two teams combined for 34 fouls and 4 yellow cards.

Cleary drops to 8-3 overall, 2-2 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will hit the road Saturday to take on the Blue Devils of Lawrence Tech in a WHAC matchup.  The game is set for 4:00 PM.

*Picture courtesy of UNOH Athletics*