Late Dowling goal sends No.8 Lincoln to 3-2 setback

Dowling’s go-ahead strike with four minutes left spoiled a fast start for Lincoln on Monday night, as the Rails dropped a 3-2 decision at home after carrying a two-goal lead into halftime.

Lincoln came out flying at Lincoln's turf field. Senior Abel Molina-Ordaz delivered both goals for the Rails in the opening 25 minutes, and the early surge sent the large home crowd into a frenzy. For most of the first half, Lincoln controlled possession, dictated the tempo and looked sharp on both ends while building a 2-0 advantage.

Dowling changed the match after the break. The Maroons began to generate more chances in the second half and finally broke through in the 55th minute. Ten minutes later, Dowling found an equalizer on a deep free kick, tying the match at 2-2 and shifting the pressure onto Lincoln’s back line.

Landon Sullivan, a Dowling sophomore, scored two goals for the Maroons and played a major role in the comeback. Lincoln’s defense held firm for stretches even as Dowling pushed numbers forward, but the decisive sequence arrived late. With four minutes remaining, a Dowling freshman attacker created space for himself, uncorked a left-footed shot and buried it for the winning goal.

It was a tough finish for Lincoln after such a strong first half, especially on an overcast night that had all the energy of a big match. Still, Molina-Ordaz’s two-goal performance and the Rails’ opening-half control offered a clear glimpse of what the team can be when it is on the front foot. This one turned on a handful of second-half moments, and the last one belonged to Dowling.

The Rails drop to 6-2-3 and return to action Wednesday in pivotal conference matchup as they travel to Hoover.