CHICAGO, Ill. — Chicago State men's soccer battled for a full 90 minutes Thursday evening at the Kroc Center, but a late push from Central Connecticut State proved to be the difference in a 2–1 setback for the Cougars.
After a scoreless opening half, the Cougars struck first in the 77th minute when
Arafath Ouro-Gnao netted his first goal of the season off a setup from
Jayden Quezada. The pair connected beautifully in transition, giving Chicago State a 1–0 lead with just over 13 minutes to play.
Central Connecticut responded with goals in the 81st and 90th minutes to edge out the Cougars in the closing moments.
Despite the final score, Chicago State controlled much of the possession (53%) and generated quality chances throughout the match, outshooting the Blue Devils 12–13 with seven shots on goal.
Goalkeeper Aiden Hollander was steady in net with four saves, while
Karma Bhagentsang and
Bill Okumu each registered two shots on target to pace the offense.
The Cougars also showed strong depth across the pitch with contributions from
Victor Herrera,
Saul Silva, and
Brayan Cuevas-Tapia, who all helped drive attacking play and create opportunities from wide positions.
Chicago State returns to action on Sunday as they host Mercyhurst University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
