Abdi delivers CLU royal sendoff with OT goal

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer team managed to hold off a comeback from Cal Lutheran University (4-4-0, 3-3-0) and end the night with a 3-2 overtime victory thanks to senior Mehron Abdi's (CMC) game-winning goal. After seeing their once 2-0 lead disappear at the end of the second half, the Stags (7-1-0, 5-1-0) managed to regroup and hold off the Kingsmen offense until Abdi's game-winning goal in second overtime. Senior Alex Censullo (CMC) and freshman Patrick Burke (CMC) also scored goals for CMS while Andres Mendoza and Brandon Kearney found the net for Cal Lutheran.

Both teams were aggressive on the offensive end in the opening half. In the 6th minute, freshman Isaiah Alba (CMC) received ball at the left wing and found open space to dribble to the top of box. At the edge of the box, Alba faked out a defender and drilled a shot at goal, but it sailed right. In the 19^th minute, Gabe Fernando took a testy shot from outside the box, but it sailed high above the post.

In the 30^th minute, the Kingsmen threatened again Herman Jacobs headed a ball in the box off a throw-in, but junior Daniel Cui (CMC) was there to save it.

Four minutes late, the Stags struck first when Burke delivered a low cross into the box and Censullo was there to slot the ball into the back of the net.

The Stags doubled their lead in the second half when senior Michael Crowley (CMC) received the ball in the right end of the box and delivered a short pass to Burke who was racing to the net. Burke teed off past the keeper to make it 2-0.

The Kingsmen started to get more aggressive in the offensive end and in the 73^rd minute their effort finally paid off. Cristian Yepez delivered a through ball into the box from the middle of the pitch and found a racing Mendoza who delivered a clinical finish to cut the lead in half.

Following a CMS foul in the 81^st minute, Daniel Aguilar delivered a free kick that went past several players and towards Kearney who stood at the back post and punched it in to tie the game.

The two teams were held at bay until second overtime, when Abdi managed to pull through for the Stags. In the 102^nd minute, sophomore Aidan Johnson (CMC) played the ball off a second bounce from outside the middle of the box and squeezed a pass in towards a cutting Abdi. Abdi received it and shot it off the touch to send his teammates rushing on the field.

The Stags will play an exhibition against the alumni tomorrow at 10 a.m. on Pritzlaff Field before they host University of La Verne on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. 

By Young Kim
Sports Information Assistant

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