Colorado College exploded for a season-high five goals during the second half to turn a 1-0 halftime deficit into a 5-2 victory over the University of Dallas on Saturday at Stewart Field.
Senior captain
John Schuler led the way with two goals, senior midfielder
Jackson Silverstein recorded a goal and an assist, while senior midfielder
Miles Montgomery sparked the outburst with assists on each of the first two goals.
Despite falling behind when Ethan Johnson scored on a header from the back post off a Chase Reynolds corner kick in the 30th minute, the Tigers began to generate scoring opportunities during the final 20 minutes of the first half.
CC leveled the score 2:58 into the second half when Montgomery ran down a long pass from
Mason Davis in the left corner and sent a cross to the top of the six-yard box, where Silverstein was waiting to head it home.
Just 66 seconds later, the Tigers grabbed the lead when
Kiran Singh scored on a header from the top of the six off of a direct kick from Montgomery. Singh leads the team with four goals and eight points.
The offensive onslaught continued in the 51st minute when Schuler scored on a penalty kick with a shot to the lower right corner after
Kevin Peterson was taken down in the box while dribbling the ball between a pair of defenders.
Schuler improved his career mark to 3-for-3 on penalties with what proved to be his first game winner of the season and the third of his career.
The defensive midfielder completed his first career brace in the 57th minute, scoring on a first-touch shot from the top of the 18 off a pass from Silverstein.
It marked the second time this season and the third time in his career that Silverstein recorded a goal and an assist in the same game.
After Nat Kajiwara got one back for the Crusaders with a little less than 25 minutes to play,
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale came off the bench to score on a right-footed shot from 19 yards out just 40 seconds after returning to the game to close out the scoring.
"We haven't had that much fun in a half of soccer on Stewart Field in some time," head coach
Scott Palguta said. "The response from the whole group after going down a goal was excellent, but our seniors really spearheaded that effort. Their finger prints were all over the second half.
"At the other end, though, we need to be better defending set pieces. It has been our Achilles heel this season and must improve if we want to have a chance to win a league championship."
Overall, the Colorado College defense allowed just eight total shots.
The Tigers finished with a 22-8 advantage in total shots and a 7-6 edge in corner kicks.
Colorado College Standouts
Mason Davis recorded his first career point.
Miles Montgomery took over the team lead with four assists.
Kiran Singh led the Tigers with four shots on goal.
University of Dallas Standouts
Ethan Johnson scored his first career goal.
Goncalo Pernas finished with five saves.
Chase Reynolds led the Crusaders with a pair of shots.
Notes
Colorado College improved to 4-1-1 overall and 4-0-1 in the SCAC.
UD slipped to 2-4-1.
Next for the Tigers
Colorado College faces it's toughest week of the season when the Tigers travel to Texas to face Trinity University and Texas Lutheran University on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
