Phoenix rise to upend No. 19 RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - While it's not nearly as rare as the opportunity to see Halley's Comet, it is something that doesn't happen very often.
     The "it" is a shutout loss at home by the University of Rio Grande men's soccer team.
     But that's exactly what happened head coach Scott Morrissey's club on Saturday morning against Cumberland (Tenn.) University in the final round of the RedStorm Classic.
     The Phoenix netted one goal in each half and posted a 2-0 triumph over the 19th-ranked RedStorm at sizzling hot Evan E. Davis Field.
     Cumberland improved to 3-0 with the win.
     Rio Grande's record evened at 1-1 as a result of the loss.
     The reverse clean sheet marked just the fourth time since 2008 that the RedStorm found themselves blanked at home. The other three instances included a 1-0 loss to Roberts Wesleyan College on Oct. 17, 2008, a 1-0 decision to Tennessee Wesleyan on March, 9, 2021 during the 2020-21 COVID-19 split season and a 1-0 setback at the hands of Indiana Wesleyan on Sept. 16, 2023.
     Rio enjoyed a commanding 24-15 advantage in total shots on Saturday, but managed just five on frame - all of which were stopped by Cumberland net-minder George Irons.
     The Phoenix tallied eight shots on goal and also enjoyed a 10-6 cushion in corner kick opportunities.
     Abdul Kadir accounted for CU's first half marker, finding the back of the net off of a pass from Marcos Perez with 21:39 remaining before the intermission.
     That's how things remained until an unassisted goal by Phillip Schmidtke with 26:32 provided an insurance goal and made it 2-0.
     Senior keeper Matheus de Campos (Brasilia, Brazil) stopped six shots in the loss for the RedStorm.
     The contest included a total of 33 common fouls - 18 against Cumberland and 15 against Rio Grande - and seven yellow card cautions. Five of the seven yellows were issued against the Phoenix.
     The RedStorm will return to action next weekend in the NAIA Labor Day Classic, which is being played in Atlanta, Ga.
     Rio will face long-time rival Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College on Saturday before tangling with Bethel (Ind.) University on Monday, Sept. 2.