ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies secured their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over the University of Illinois Chicago on Thursday at the Oakland Soccer Field, behind multiple stellar performances on the pitch from
Cal Kurzawa,
Stephen Gilbert,
Cole Thompson, and more.
The match commenced with the Golden Grizzlies establishing their presence early on. In the 12th minute, Christopher Jean Leger netted his first goal of the season, assisted by
Cal Kurzawa and
Andriy Bilous, delivering the opening goal to put the Golden Grizzlies ahead 1-0.
Cole Thompson made multiple crucial saves to maintain the lead en route to eight saves on the night, including a significant stop against the Flames' Darrell Turcios in the 38th minute.
The Golden Grizzlies continued to apply pressure through multiple shot attempts and corners, while also managing defensive stops to keep the Flames scoreless. The first half concluded with the Golden Grizzlies holding a 1-0 advantage, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the match.
The second half began with a momentum shift as UIC's Sota Nakazono scored early to equalize the match at 1-1. The Golden Grizzlies responded decisively with
Cal Kurzawa's goal in the 56th minute, assisted by
Stephen Gilbert, to reclaim the lead. Kurzawa struck again in the 71st minute, once more assisted by Gilbert, extending the Golden Grizzlies' advantage to 3-1.
UIC quickly narrowed the gap with a goal from Martin Montoya in the 73rd minute, assisted by Artem Grinblat, setting up a tense finish. Despite several attempts by the Flames to level the score,
Cole Thompson's strong goalkeeping preserved the Golden Grizzlies' lead, setting them up for a 3-2 win in the home-opener.
Cole Thompson anchored the defense with eight saves, ensuring a solid performance in goal, while
Zach Townsend made several impact plays on the back line.
Cal Kurzawa led the offense by notching two goals and an assist, including four shots on target.
Stephen Gilbert played a key role in the attack, posting two assists to support the team's efforts.
For their next match the Golden Grizzlies will head to Phoenix to face Grand Canyon University on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 9 p.m ET.
