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Columbia International University Athletics

Bender vs. SAU
2
St. Andrews ST. ANDR (8-6-2, 6-4-3)
3
Winner CIU CIU (11-3-3, 9-2-2)
St. Andrews ST. ANDR
(8-6-2, 6-4-3)
2
Final
3
CIU CIU
(11-3-3, 9-2-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
St. Andrews ST. ANDR 0 2 2
CIU CIU 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | lthompson

Bender leads Rams past Knights in AAC Quarterfinals

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In a quarterfinal matchup in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament, No. 2 seed CIU men's soccer took the pitch for a much-anticipated battle with No. 7 St. Andrews University (AAC). 

The last time two times these two squads met up were also at Sessions Field. SAU knocked off the top-seeded Rams in a AAC quarterfinal match a season ago and just a few weeks ago the Knight took down CIU 1-0 with a late second-half goal in the regular season. This time around, the Rams struck first and held on for the win, advancing to the semifinal round on Tuesday. 

Scoring Summary: 
The contest played out similarly to the game on Oct. 26 between these two squads in the early going. The Rams dominated possession, being very calculated with their scoring chanceS. Fabio Bender struck first for CIU, adding to an already impressive season total with an assist from Daniel Ospina. The Rams would take the one-score lead into the break. 

In the early part of the second frame, on a bizarre play, Bender was shaken up and had to exit the contest. However, Bender, who was shortly allowed to re-enter at any point after the whistle was blown, quickly sprinted onto the pitch from midfield as he made a run to the corner on the same sideline where he walked off. He would then make a move to dice past his defender to play a ball inside the box to Ospina for the Ram's third goal. However, SAU would not be out of it yet, as they scored their first goal of the game in the 61' minute. 

Later, on one of the more impressive goals all season, Bender would put in his second goal of the match and third consecutive brace as he laid out for a header that past by the keeper to add to CIU's advantage. SAU would cut the deficit in half for the second time in the 79' minute, but CIU controlled possession for the remaining time of play to win their first AAC conference tournament game in program history.  

What Daniel Ospina is saying postgame: 


Up Next: 
CIU will move on to the semifinal round, where they will host No. 3 seed Tennessee Wesleyan on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Kick-off is set for 7 PM.
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