LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Central Arkansas held the lead over No. 2 Louisville for much of the afternoon on Sunday, but a goal in the final minute enabled the Cardinals to escape with a 3-2 victory in front of 2,873 at Cardinal Park.
Playing a man down for the final 26 minutes after Stephen Williams' ejection following his second yellow card, the Bears (1-3-0) remained in a 2-2 tie until the Cardinals (4-1-0) got a score from Will Vitalis with 56 seconds remaining to pull out the win.
The Bears took the lead in the first half when Mickey Segura took a short touch pass from Andrew Van Woesik and blasted it into the upper left corner of the goal from 25 yards out for his first goal of the season. It did not take long, however, for the Cardinals to answer as Chase Rodgers hit a header into the net a minute and a half later to pull the score even at 1-1.
UCA narrowly missed taking the lead in the 24th minute when Denmark Gillings' shot from 15 yards out went just high of the goal.
The Bears did regain the lead in the 43rd minute, with Chris Deaville taking a cross in the penalty area from Elia Louis and knocking it beyond Louisville keeper Andre Boudreaux for the 2-1 lead.
That score held until midway through the second half, despite the Cardinals maintaining possession for the majority of the period. After taking nine shots in the first half, Louisville peppered UCA with 21 in the second half though they were unable to convert until the very end.
The Cardinals appeared to have tied the match in the 47th minute, but the goal was negated by an offsides call. After a number of close misses, Louisville eventually drew even in the 73rd minute on a header from Buck Tufty.
UCA's last shot at reclaiming the lead once more came in the 79th minute when Andrew O'Brien hit a header off a corner kick by Ethan Miller, but it sailed wide left.
Louisville had two shots blocked and another saved by UCA goalkeeper Patxi Shortsleeve in the last five minutes, but finally broke through with the game winner on Vitalis' first goal of the season.
The Cardinals finished with a season-high 30 shots including 12 on goal. The Bears had 10 shots with six on goal. Amir Pasic played 77 minutes in goal for UCA and had eight saves with two goals allowed, while Shortsleeve finished with a save and a goal allowed in relief duty over the final 13 minutes.
Boudreaux had four saves for Louisville.
The Cardinals held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks, and UCA was whistled for 18 fouls to Louisville's six.
The Bears return home to face UMKC next Saturday at 4 p.m.
