Top 25 Clash: Racers Suffer First Setback Since August

LIVONIA, MI - Saturday afternoon lived up to the hype when No. 23 UNOH and No. 18 Madonna collided in a battle for WHAC supremacy. Two of the country's top offenses didn't disappoint combining for five total goals, but it was the Crusaders who had the last laugh handing the Racers their first loss since August 30, 3-2.

It took less than a minute for UNOH to get in front first as Josh Pearson scored off the first corner of the game taken by Aimar Lezana. Madonna fought back to tie the match in the 21st minute before pulling in front just before halftime 2-1.  

The Racers continued to create opportunities into the second half but it wasn't until the 66th minute when they finally broke through again. Leonard K.Assouan found Michel Tentchou in the box who struck it first time and rocketed the ball past a diving keeper. With the game locked at 2-2, tensions rose and both teams lost a player in the span of six minutes to keep the rosters even. Finally, in the 84th minute, the nation's second leading scorer took advantage of an indirect free kick and netted his second of the day to put the Crusaders back on top for good, 3-2.

UNOH dominated statistically putting 14 of 27 shots on goal to just four on goal for Madonna but the Crusader keeper was sharp making twelve saves over the 90 minutes.

The loss drops UNOH into a four-way tie for first place in the conference with Madonna, Lawrence Tech and No. 16 Indiana Tech. The Racers will look to rebound and keep their title hopes alive when they travel to Rochester Christian on Saturday, October 18.