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SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Junior Stevenson Storm scored his league-best fifth goal of the season, and added an assist, to lead the Spring Arbor University men's soccer team to a convincing 3-0 win over Concordia University in the Cougars' home opener on Friday.
The win was the fourth straight for SAU, who improved to 4-0 on the season, while the Cardinals slipped to 0-2.
After a slow start, the Cougars started to pick up the intensity. Twice in the 18th minute, SAU threatened on runs by Jared Putt, but was whistled offside both times.
The Cougars were able to break through, though, in the 22nd minute when sophomore Michael Caccavo found senior Brendan Bell over the top, who fired a cross into the goal area that deflected off a Cardinal defender and into the back of the net.
Spring Arbor continued to press in the ensuing minutes, capped with a blast by Storm from 18-yards out, which the Concordia goalkeeper made a terrific save on to keep the deficit at one. The Cougars sustained the pressure, but lightning in the area would force a 30-minute delay, halting SAU's momentum and giving a reeling Cardinal squad a chance to regroup.
Shortly after the match resumed, senior keeper Billy Irvine would make a huge save on an up close shot to preserve the lead, which the Cougars would take into halftime.
It didn't take long, however, for Spring Arbor to take control once again following the break, scoring just over four minutes into the second half. Storm grabbed a loose ball in the corner and dribbled down the endline and curled a shot past the keeper to give the Cougars a 2-0 advantage.
The home team would put the match away in the 61st minute after Caccavo tallied his first goal of the season. After Storm played a ball through to Adam Hunt deep in the attacking third, Hunt slipped a cross to a streaking Caccavo who tapped it into the open net.
Irvine finished the match with six saves.
The Cougars held a slim lead in shots, recording 15 compared to CUAA's 14, while both teams registered three corners.
Spring Arbor is right back in action tomorrow when they host Olivet Nazarene University at 7 p.m.
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