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Max Lopez Sets Career Scoring Mark, Leads #1 Chicago Past Carnegie Mellon, 2-1

Max Lopez Sets Career Scoring Mark, Leads #1 Chicago Past Carnegie Mellon, 2-1

From University of Chicago Athletics

Friday's game-winning goal proved to be a historic one for Max Lopez. The University of Chicago men's soccer senior broke the school record for career points in a 2-1 victory at Carnegie Mellon University.

The No. 1-ranked Maroons improved to 12-0-1 on the season, including 3-0 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). The No. 13-ranked Tartans fell to 8-2-2 overall (1-2 UAA).

Lopez tallied his 11th goal of the year and the 49th of his illustrious career. He now stands at 122 career points, breaking a tie with Dennis Ball, who tallied 120 points from 1971-73.

However, it was CMU who struck the opening blow a mere 59 seconds into the contest. An errant back pass by the Maroons was intercepted and the Tartans immediately blasted the ball in for a 1-0 lead.

Sixteen minutes in, senior forward Matthew Koh provided the equalizer. A through ball bounced off a mass of bodies in the middle of the box, where first-year midfielder Vicente Mateus made a subtle touch forward to Koh. The senior quickly turned and fired in his 11th goal from nine yards away.

It was Lopez's turn in the 19th minute. Sophomore defender Scott Lich moved up in the attack and crossed a long ball in the air to first-year midfielder Kyle Ruark. The rookie laid out for a diving header that was initially saved by the goalkeeper, but Lopez was there to clean up the rebound with a header of his own in close.

The 2-1 advantage at halftime held up the rest of the way. A red card on CMU occurred in the final six minutes of play and UChicago salted the game away.

Sophomore goalkeeper Aaron Katsimpalis (12-0-1 record) collected three saves with one goal allowed. The Tartans topped the shots category 9-8, while UChicago led corner kicks 5-2.