TOWSON, Md. – The Catholic men's soccer team looked to pick up its first Landmark win of the season after a pair of draws to start conference play while taking on Goucher on Tuesday night. The Cardinals put up back-to-back goals within two minutes of each other in the first half to grab a stronghold on the match and held onto the lead throughout the second half to come away with a 3-1 victory over the Gophers.

The Cardinals strung together some nice passing to set up an opportunity for the game's first goal 26 minutes into the action. Christian Backich played a ball into the penalty area to Francesco Mattucci, who found Azaria Tewodros in the center of the 18. Tewodros calmly tucked his shot into the center of the net to give Catholic a 1-0 lead.

Just over two minutes later, Backich once again delivered a dangerous pass into the penalty area to create another scoring opportunity. After a deflection off the Gophers keeper, Holden Woodings was on the spot to pick up the scraps, finding the back of the net for the Cardinals second goal in as many minutes to double the lead. Catholic took its 2-0 advantage into halftime after Owen Allegro made a save in the final 10 minutes of the half.

The Cardinals managed to score a third goal off a corner kick in the opening eight minutes of the first half after a cross was delivered in the box that hit off the Gophers and went into the goal to give Catholic a commanding 3-0 lead.

Goucher managed to break up the shutout with a goal just seven minutes later, but were unable to gain anymore momentum against Catholic as the Cardinals finished off a 3-1 win. It was the fourth time this season the team has scored three or more goals in a game. The Cardinals now sit at 6-0-5 on the season and 1-0-2 in conference play. 

Woodings extended his team and conference leading goal total to six on the season with his goal in the first half. He now has 21 goals in his Catholic career, just one shy of moving into a tie for eighth place in career goals in DIII program history. Tewodros moved into a tie for second on the team in goals with three and Mattucci's assists was his second on the season and second in the past three games. 

Allegro made three saves in total, playing the full 90 minutes in goal for the Cardinals. Graham Leary, Ellington Andrews, Corey Magro and Charlie Paparella also played the full 90 minutes for Catholic.

The Cardinals return home for a Landmark Conference bout with Wilkes on Saturday, October 11. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm on Carlini Field.