SPARKILL, NY (Oct. 3, 2023) - It looked as though the Lions were headed towards their third draw of the season, tied at two with less than a minute to play against St. Thomas Aquinas. But things changed quickly and the Spartans were able to bury a last minute shot to sneak off with a 3-2 win. The loss puts the Lions at 2-5-2 this season.

How it Happened
• The match featured plenty of shots, 37 in total with 21 coming on target.
• STAC had the offensive advantage with 22 shots to GCU's 15. They led 12-9 in shots on goal and 10-2 on corner kicks.
• Both teams were called for their fair share of fouls. The Spartans were called for 20 and the Lions 19. However, GCU was booked for four yellow cards and Spartans just one.
• One of those yellow cards came in the very first minute of the game. Andres Gonzalez-Rios got a step past the Lion defense and Oscar Jannesson was called for stopping a breakaway opportunity.
• On the ensuing free kick, a step outside the box, Gonzalez-Rios shot low and hard. The ball went under the Lion wall of defenders and by the time Fabio Krissler located it, it was too late as the ball tucked into the lower left corner for a 1-0 Spartan lead 61 seconds into the match.
• St. Thomas Aquinas used the momentum of the first goal getting five more shots on goal in the next five minutes. Krissler was up to task on each one though. 
• The Lions finally found their footing midway through the period and started to generate more offense. In the 26th minute, Mathias Madersbacher took a free kick. He served into the box where Cherif Tammar got a redirect header past the Spartan goalkeeper to tie the game at one.
• Late in the half, Krissler made a terrific save on Nicholas Sadorf's, free kick punching the ball up and over the net to keep things tied heading into intermission.
• Despite Krissler's eight first half saves, the Lions went to Ayendi Batista to start the second. He too saw a lot of pressure early on. Just over eight minutes in, STAC took the lead back. A cross from right to left from Lewis Paterson found Kevon Evans open in front of the net. He tapped it out of midair past Batista for a 2-1 lead.
• The Lions found the equalizer just six minutes later. On a counter attack, Joseph Juarez hit Cole Sullivan. Sullivan was draped by Spartan defenders on either side and the goaltender stepping up, but was able to chip it over the head of the STAC keeper and into the net, tying the game in the 60th minute.
• That's where the score remained for 29 more minutes. Each team got a couple of shots off, but were unable to break the tie. In the final five minutes, STAC had an open turnaround shot that went wide and Gonzalez-Rios was looking for his second goal of the game, but Batista got enough to knock it harmlessly out of play.
• In the game's final minute though, Batista's punt was won by the Spartans. The ball settled at the feet of Sadorf who charged down the center of the field between Lion defenders and ripped a shot from the top of the box into the lower left corner of the net with just 47 seconds left to play. STAC took the lead and won 3-2.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Cherif Tammar and Cole Sullivan each scored on their only shot attempt of the game.
• Joseph Ficarotta and Jonathan Svelland each had two shots.
• Mathias Madersbacher picked up an assist.
• Fabio Krissler started and made eight saves. Ayendi Batista made one stop.

For the Spartans
• Kevon Evans and Nicholas Sadorf each had a goal on five shots.
• Alejandro Zuniga took a game-high eight shots.
• Andres Gonzalez-Rios scored on a free kick.
• Petter Gunnarsson made seven saves.

News and Notes
• Mathias Madersbacher moves to sixth place all-time at GCU in total points.
• David Tuschmann played in his 20th career game. 
• Fabio Krissler's eight saves are the most by a Lion in a match this season and he did so playing 45 minutes. 
• This was the first meeting between the Lions and Spartans in seven years. STAC now leads the all-time series 2-1.
• The 22 shots GCU allowed are the most by an opponent this season as are the 10 corner kicks.

Up Next
• GCU is back in conference action Saturday afternoon. They'll play game two of a men's and women's soccer doubleheader at Bloomfield. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.