FROSTBURG, Md. – A second half Concord goal was enough to defeat the Frostburg State Men's Soccer team at home in their season opener on Sunday afternoon.
 
FSU looked well-organized in keeping possession over the first five minutes, eventually working the ball up the field where senior Kevin Garcia-Torres drew a free kick about 30 yards from goal. It was taken quickly and sophomore Dom Good was able to dribble into the box, getting a cross away that was parried by keeper Miguel Oliveria into the path of sophomore Mason Salvadge, who tried to fire into the roof of the net but was denied by the CU netminder.
 
The Mountain Lions worked their way back into the game and kept the Frostburg attack fairly quiet over the next 20 minutes. Sophomore goalkeeper Jan Foret was called into action for the first time at the eight-minute mark, easily gathering a shot from just outside the 18. CU had a further four shots that either missed the mark or were closed down before receiving a free kick with 24 minutes gone. As the ball was floated to the back post, Darian Bradshaw was adjudged to have been brought down illegally, resulting in a penalty kick. Raheem Baptiste stepped up but fired wide of the mark to let the Bobcats off the hook.
 
The celebrations didn't last long, as just 30 seconds later, Richard Henry latched onto a high bouncing ball and ran through on goal, putting a tidy finish past Foret for a 1-0 advantage. Just before the half hour mark, senior Jason Guevara had a great chance to equalize, as he was first to react to an awkward bounce from a free kick, but his volley went just over the bar with Oliveria beaten. 10 minutes later, in similar fashion, freshman Diego Peralta fared the same fate on his left foot.
 
As it appeared Concord would head into the break with their lead, junior Anthony Diaz had other ideas, making a smart turn into the box and was brought down from behind for a Frostburg penalty. Senior Carlos Quintero Rivas made no mistake, sending Oliveria the wrong way and getting off the mark for the season to make it a 1-1 match.
 
Garcia-Torres had the opening effort of the second half with a shot blocked on the edge of the area, but five minutes later the Mountain Lions had the ball in the back of the net once again. Reese Joshua-McCarthy made a run down the right wing, just keeping the ball in play and cutting back into the box from the byline, where Malher Santi Possu met it first time into the bottom corner to go up 2-1.
 
Four minutes later as a free kick was sent far into the Bobcat penalty area, Henry put a head towards goal but it didn't have enough power to trouble Foret. Just five minutes after giving his team the lead, Santi Possu wasn't there to help their cause, as he received a red card for an intentional elbow, putting the visitors down to 10 men. Sensing their chance to get back in the contest, freshman Spencer Davis put a head just wide as Concord dropped into a full defensive formation.
 
Quintero Rivas also attempted a flicked header towards net but missed wide, then junior Hugo Portillo saw an effort charged down five minutes later. FSU won three consecutive corners, however all they could conjure from them was another wide Davis shot. Quintero Rivas looked like Frostburg's best chance at equalizing, as he sent one effort high and another saved by Oliveria as time was ticking down. Freshman Frank Stare had one of the better looks with just over a minute remaining, but didn't find the right connection, shooting high and wide as the buzzer sounded on the 2-1 Mountain Lion win.
 
FSU held a 13-10 advantage in shots, though only three were on target to Concord's four.
 
With the loss, Frostburg starts their season 0-1, while CU improves to 2-0. The Bobcats are right back home on Wednesday, September 10 to face West Virginia Wesleyan at 5 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.