Williamsburg, KY – A close-nit first half saw the #24 Patriots trailing 2-1, until an offensive burst in the second half led UC to collect a 5-2 victory over the Baker Wildcats on Saturday afternoon. Cumberlands records their second win of the season, seeing them sit at an overall record of 2-0-0.
Collectively, UC tallied 19 shots with 10 being on frame. Rodrigo Riveros led the way, recording four goals with six shots and four on frame. Riveros ties the single season goals per game record, dating back to Pedro Antonelli against Georgetown in 2013. Fabio Galeano Bazan also recorded a goal, with three shots and one on frame.
In the first half, UC had to work hard on defense with the Wildcats recording the first shot of the game. The Patriots forced the ball on offense, seeing Mario Fernandez Garcia with a shot that was just high and Galeano Bazan with a blocked shot. UC continued to work on the offensive half, marking a pair of goals on frame to set the pace.
In the 28', the Pats recorded their first goal of the day on a pass across the box from Fernandez Garcia to Riveros for a 1-0 advantage. Within three minutes, the Wildcats pressed on offense to record two goals and take a 2-1 lead over the Patriots heading into the half.
In the second half, Cumberlands wasted no time, seeing Riveros record the brace in the 50' with his third goal of the season. With an even playing field, Emil Skursch attacked with a shot on frame before the Patriots quickly transitioned to defense.
UC took advantage of a corner kick from Skursch, but to no avail the score remained 2-2. Back on the offensive half of the field in the 75th minute, a pass up field to Shuma Sasaki was sent across the box to Martinez who passed it back to Galeano Bazan to see the Patriots take a 3-2 advantage over the Wildcats.
The Wildcats looked to cut the deficit, but in the 82', Fernandez Garcia passed across the box to find Riveros once again for the hat trick and elevating Cumberlands to a 4-2 lead.
With a quick turnaround, the Patriots recorded their final goal of the game in the 85', seeing Galeano Bazan find Riveros for his fourth and final goal of the game. As time dwindled down, the Patriots offense held the Wildcats at bay to record a 5-2 victory.
UC will be back in action next week, heading to Atlanta for two games over the weekend. The first game of the weekend will be against #10 University of Mobile (AL) at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 31st. The second game will be held against #11 Keiser University (FL) at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 2nd.
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