CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A furious finish netted the Central Arkansas men's soccer team a win on Saturday, as the Bears took a 4-3 win over Queens. With the victory, Central Arkansas improves to 5-4-2 on the year, with a 4-1 conference record.
 
The first half gave the fans a torrid middle of the half, as the teams combined for three goals in less than three minutes. Queens tallied the first goal of the match in the 24^th minute, striking on the team's fifth shot of the match. Just 64 seconds later, Central Arkansas evened it up off the foot of Karim Diao. But the equalizer was short-lived, as Queens reclaimed the lead 88 seconds after that.
 
Bradyn Knutson came close to tying the game again in the 28^th minute, but his shot was saved. From there, the 2-1 score would hold through the final buzzer of the first half.
 
As the second half started, the fireworks settled down, as the teams settled into a defensive rhythm. Sebastian Andreassen and Jerry Gutierrez both had real chances to tie the game again in the 58^th and 61^st minutes, but the Queens keeper kept the shots away. Hope seemed to be lost in the 77^th minute, as the Royals punched home a third goal to take a 3-1 lead.
 
But the Bears refused to quit, just needing a single score to get themselves back in it. Pushing forward, Central Arkansas indeed found its goal, as Pietro Fontana scored the first goal of his UCA career in the 84th. Seizing momentum, Richy Lapointe-Guevara finished a goal of his own a couple of minutes later, tying the match on an assist by Kris Naicker.
 
Two minutes after tying the game, Fontana played the role of the hero for the Bears, putting home the game winner in the 88^th minute. The 3-1 deficit was the largest overcome by Central Arkansas this season, and the three-straight to win the game came in just four minutes and 22 seconds. After getting outshot 7-2 in the first half, the Bears responded by outworking the Royals to the tune of 11-2.
 
Central Arkansas now turns its attention to a home game next Saturday, as the team will take on Florida Gulf Coast. With kickoff at 7 p.m., the Bears will play to come one step closer to locking up a hosting bid for the ASUN Championship.