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Mush celebration
4
Carthage CC (5-5-1, 1-2-0)
5
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU (7-0-2, 1-0-0)
Carthage CC
(5-5-1, 1-2-0)
4
Final
5
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
(7-0-2, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Carthage CC 1 3 4
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 0 5 5

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Comes Back to Beat Carthage in CCIW Opener

Titans remain unbeaten on the year

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team played its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin match, Saturday, Oct. 5 against Carthage College on Neis Field, using a barrage of second-half goals to earn a 5-4 triumph. The Titans remain unbeaten on the season with the win as they move to 7-0-2 (1-0-0 CCIW), while the Firebirds move to 5-5-1 (1-2-0).

The Titans and the Firebirds had a hard fought first half with the game remaining scoreless all the way into the 35th minute of the game, when Carthage scored the game's first goal.

The Firebirds scored twice in a three minute span early in the second half to climb ahead 3-0 into the 51st minute of play.

Illinois Wesleyan broke through in the 63rd minute to kickoff the comeback with an assist from junior Logan Tierney (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) as senior Mush Bakirdan (Morton, Ill.-Morton) net his first goal of the season.

Sophomore Joey Rodino (Palatine, Ill.-Fremd) registered the Titans second goal of the game with a penalty kick goal off a yellow card from the Firebirds to trim the lead to one, 3-2, in the 69th minute.

The run from the Titans did not stop there however, as freshman Ben Lyons (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) scored off a cross from sophomore Matthew Perchik (Glenview, Ill.-New Trier) to tie the game, 3-3, at the 73 minute mark. 

Less than 30 seconds later, the Titans scored, with some flare from a corner kick from Lyons that was headed into the back of the net by sophomore Ryder Coleman (Bannockburn, Ill.-Deerfield) to push the Titans ahead, 4-3. 

IWU's lead was shortlived though ,as the Firebirds responded with a goal in the 79th minute to level the score, 4-4.

The Green and White's thrilling comeback continued as Bakirdan caught the defense lacking and put the ball to the back of the net on a free kick with only six minutes left in the game to reclaim a 5-4 IWU lead. 

Carthage pressed for the equalizer, but Illinois Wesleyan ultimately held the Firebirds off for a 5-4 victory.

IWU travels to Wheaton College, Wednesday, Oct. 9 for another CCIW clash. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Joe Bean Stadium.
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