Cougars Drop Non-Conference Bout with Lakers

Cougars Drop Non-Conference Bout with Lakers
September 3, 2022

(Howell, MI)-- It was a hot but beautiful day for soccer at Lake Trust Stadium, as the Cleary Cougars men's soccer team welcomed the Roosevelt University Lakers for a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon.

Cleary was able to get on the scoreboard first to take an early 1-0 lead.  After earning a throw-in deep down the Laker sideline, Conner Savidge threw a deep ball in towards the center of the penalty area, and found an unmarked Dillon Croft who powered a shot into the back of the net, scoring his first goal of the season.  The Lakers would answer just three minutes later.  After Cleary was unable to clear the ball out of their end, the ball found a wide open Roosevelt player who was able to slot it past Cleary goalie Vaios Papadoudis to equalize the game.  Roosevelt would take the lead fifteen minutes later, when the ball took a deflection off a Cougar and set up a Laker fast break opportunity to make the score 2-0.  That score would remain into the halftime break.

Roosevelt would score the game's final goal from the penalty spot, as the visitors drew a foul from Vini Marcelino, and then converted to take a 3-1 lead.  Cleary did have a chance, to inch closer and cut into the deficit, when Eliya Budugure fired a shot from distance, but it narrowly missed the goal wide.  Roosevelt would hold on to win the game 3-1, giving Cleary their second defeat of the season.

Dillon Croft's goal was his first of the season, as he made his Cleary debut Saturday afternoon.  Vaios Papadoudis made 3 saves in goal, as he drops to 0-2-2 on the season.  Roosevelt outshot the Cougars 13-5 in the game, and held a 3-1 margin on corner kicks.  Cleary committed 16 fouls to Roosevelt's 14 on the afternoon.

Cleary will next be in action next Saturday, September 10, when they host the Ohio Christian University Trailblazers in a non-conference matchup.  Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM at Lake Trust Stadium.