McMINNVILLE, Ore. –  Reduced to 10 men with 30 minutes left to play, the Linfield Wildcats conceded the game-winning goal with 3:54 remaining in regulation to fall to NCAA Division II Concordia 1-0 Sunday at the Linfield Soccer Field.
 
With Linfield's season-opening exhibition match nearing overtime, Cavalier forward Paul Seydel collected a cross in the Wildcats' six-yard box and eventually slotted the match's deciding goal to break the deadlock.
 
First Half
Starting Linfield netminder Nick Van Kleek kept his side within striking distance early on, saving five shots on 13 Cavalier attempts. To match the influx of Concordia shots taken in the first half, the Wildcats managed just one attempt on target via a Josh  Morales right-footed strike from outside the box.
 
Second Half
Linfield rotated goalkeepers Eli  Peckham and Cameron Perron during the second period. With Peckham having to make just one save during his shift, Perron entered his first collegiate competition midway through the half. One one minute after the goalkeeping change was made, the Cavaliers earned a penalty shot at the 68:40 mark when a cross into the Wildcat box was ruled a handball.
 
Seydel's attempt to Perron's left side was parried straight back at him, with the freshman forward hitting another shot straight toward Perron's goal. The Linfield goalkeeper made yet another spectacular point-blank save to preserve his side's clean sheet with 21:20 left to play.
 
Seydel did enjoy the last laugh 17 minutes later, however. With a potential overtime session looming, Concordia's Kevin Stordahl whipped in a right-footed cross that found Seydel eight yards from Linfield's net. The forward calmly shifted the ball to his left foot and sealed Linfield's fate, despite Perron's best efforts to obstruct the attempt.
 
Key Moment
With a little more than 30 minutes left in regulation, Linfield's Isaac Archer picked up his second yellow card in the span of three minutes, handing the Cavaliers a one-man advantage for the remainder of the match.
 
Top Wildcats
The freshman-heavy Wildcats fielded 11 players (Perran, Morales, Van Kleek, Chase Whittaker, Luke Marks, Ryan Kister, Alejandro Lee-Perez, Oscar Garcia, Sam Sinks, Matteen Villanueva, and Brian Huynh) who made their collegiate debuts. Isaias  Flores and Kister led the 'Cats with two shots each.
 
Leading Cavaliers
Reggie Reyes and Seydel combined for 15 shots in the contest. Goalkeeper Grant Alcorn made just one save in a full 90 minutes of action.
 
Ahead
The Wildcats kick off the regular season Friday, September 1, hosting Walla Walla at 1 p.m. at the Linfield Soccer Field.