(Story courtesy of Colorado College Athletics Communications)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The dance continues for the No. 5 Colorado College men's soccer team after downing Pacific Lutheran 3-2 in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Tigers upheld the Lutes despite a late comeback attempt late in the second half and got the home crowd at Stewart Field a postseason victory.
"I thought we played one of our best games of the season today," head coach Scott Palguta said. "We took a couple of plays off and paid the price, but we attacked with real tenacity and deserved our goals."
Jack Hilliard led the way with two second-half goals, including the game-winner in the 82nd minute. CC took the early lead in the 19th minute when Hilliard launched a beautiful cross off a free kick that Curtis Hale tear dropped into the back of the net. It was Hilliard's first five-point game after he also gathered an assist.
"Jack and Curtis were game-changers at each end of the field today, but I was also impressed with the play of our substitutes, particularly Zeke Lubin and Dylan Rich, who both played major roles in the second half," Palguta said.
It was Hale's second goal and Hilliard's fifth assist of the season. It was a 1-0 CC lead at the break, but it only took PLU less than 20 seconds to knot the game up when Trevor Thompson, the leading scorer in program history) racked up his 23rd goal of the season with an assist from Craig Johnson.
Despite the quick strike by the Lutes, the Tigers kept the pressure out and Hilliard eventually laced a ball after being found by Rex Karijan in the 56th minute. Hilliard gave the Tigers the lead, which they would subsequently increase in the 82nd minute after Teddy Opler dished a pass to Hilliard, who lined up and shot a rocket toward the left side of the net.
Karjian's assist was his 10th on the season as he became the first Tiger since 2021 to rack up double-digit assists.
Hilliard's shot passed PLU goalkeeper Nicholas Gaston and appeared to put the game away with less than 8 minutes left. Hilliard finished it with a team-high six shots, three on goal.
With less than three minutes left, the Lutes could make a push-up field as Thompson found himself inside the Tiger box and scored his second goal of the game off the assist from Landon Sexton. With the added pressure of being within a goal, the Tigers kept their composure and played steadfast defense to wind down the final seconds off the clock and seal the 3-2 victory.
CC finished the game with 24 shots and held PLU to only five shots total. CC limited the Lutes to two shots in the first and first half and three in the second.
Hale followed Hilliard with three shots, two on net, and Meyerhoff and Alexander Ward each dished out two shots.
Goalkeeper Alex Wolter played all 90 minutes in net and made two saves.
CC will face off against Claremont Mudd-Scripps as the Stags downed Oglethorpe 2-0 in the second first-round game. The Tigers and Stags will kick off at 1 pm MT at Stewart Field.
