Mason McCready records seven saves in a valiant defensive effort, while Jack Keaney’s last-minute header delivers three crucial points to the Sharks at home.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (September 26, 2026) — Corpus Christi FC delivered another dramatic late victory Saturday night, overcoming relentless second-half pressure from Athletic Club Boise before Jack Keaney’s 97th-minute header secured a 2-1 win at Cabaniss Athletic Complex.
The Sharks entered the night sitting just four points outside the playoff picture with six matches remaining, while Boise arrived unbeaten in its previous eight league matches and just one win shy of clinching a playoff berth.
Boise controlled the opening minutes and nearly found the breakthrough in the 19th minute, but Mason McCready came off his line to deny a one-on-one opportunity from Jesus Barea.
Corpus Christi soon found its footing. Jake Keegan nearly opened the scoring in the 16th minute, forcing a fingertip save from the Boise goalkeeper before the Sharks continued to threaten from set pieces.
The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute. Dominick Bachstein registered a takeaway at midfield and dribbled toward goal before finding Andrew Booth on the right side. Booth pulled the ball back toward the top of the box, where he found Blake Bowen cutting through the center. Bowen would work his way past three Boise defenders before striking into the back-left corner for his eighth goal of the season.
Corpus Christi carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime, with McCready and the Sharks’ backline holding Boise to two shots on target through the opening 45 minutes.
Boise turned up the pressure after the break, eventually finding the equalizer in the 63rd minute with a strike from Thomas Amang inside the penalty area. The visitors continued to push forward, forcing McCready into several crucial saves as the Sharks struggled to escape their defensive third.
McCready produced perhaps his biggest sequence of the night in the 64th minute, denying consecutive shots on target from Barea and Amang within seconds of each other to keep the match level.
McCready would again save Corpus Christi from a go-ahead goal in the 94th minute, when a Boise free kick ricocheted off the crossbar and he quickly recovered from an initial dive to keep Jonathan Ricketts’ rebound header out of what appeared to be an open net.
“Yeah, I think honestly the backline showed a little bit of resilience,” said Sharks left back Shannon Gomez. “Mason was brilliant, with double and triple saves. Ultimately, it was just the resilience to keep the ball out of the net and get this last goal coming down to the end.”
In an effort to spark the Sharks’ attack in the second half, head coach Eamon Zayed turned to his bench, bringing on EJ Johnson, Nacho Abeal, and Kyle Barganski.
With seven minutes of stoppage time added, the Sharks would eventually earn a free kick in the 97th minute after Nacho Abeal was fouled 25 yards from goal on the left flank.
Bowen played the free kick with a touch pass back to Abeal, who sent a cross toward the center of the box. Keaney redirected the ball with a header toward the back post and into the net, sending Cabaniss Athletic Complex into a frenzy.
The goal marked Keaney’s fourth this season and continued his impact from set pieces.
“Yeah, I think it was just sheer relief to be honest,” said Keaney of his emotions following the dramatic finish. “We keep going until the very end. And yeah, I think we got a very important one.”
Boise finished the night with 26 shots, including 17 in the second half, but McCready’s seven saves and a resilient defensive effort allowed Corpus Christi to withstand the pressure and claim all three points.
“Tonight was a great show of solidarity and resilience,” said head coach Eamon Zayed. “We withstood a lot of pressure in that second half but ultimately found a way. Sometimes in soccer, and life, it’s about showing that resilience and finding a way; never giving up and that’s what the guys showed tonight. Tremendous character.”
The victory moves Corpus Christi within two points of eighth place with five matches remaining in the regular season, keeping the Sharks within reach of the USL League One playoff picture.
Coming Up:
The Sharks travel to East Ridge, Tennessee, next Saturday, October 3, to take on the Chattanooga Red Wolves at CHI Memorial Stadium.
Notable:
- Corpus Christi FC remains in ninth place in the USL League One table with 36 points from nine wins, nine draws, and nine losses. The Sharks sit two points behind eighth-place Fort Wayne FC, whom they will face head-to-head on October 7.
- Andrew Booth recorded his first assist of the season on Bowen’s 22nd-minute goal
- Bowen’s goal marked his eighth of the season, the most of any Corpus Christi FC player
- Nacho Abeal also recorded his seventh assist on Keaney’s game-winner, tying Bowen for the team lead in assists
- McCready’s seven-save performance marked his season-high for a single match
Goals: Bowen (22’), Keaney (90’+7)
Assists: Booth (1), Abeal (1)
Yellow Cards: Roscoe (1), Vasic (1), Barganski (1)
| CORPUS CHRISTI FC | AC BOISE | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | SHOTS | 26 |
| 3 | SHOTS ON TARGET | 9 |
| 7 | SAVES | 1 |
| 16 | FOULS | 16 |
| 5 | CORNERS WON | 5 |
| 3 | YELLOW CARDS | 3 |
Written by Corpus Christi FC Communications Contributor Nate Martinez
About Corpus Christi FC
CCFC was established in 2017 by Dr. Kingsley Okonkwo. The club previously played in USL League Two, the nation’s leading pre-professional league, and won their first Lone Star Division title in 2024. That same year, Corpus Christi was awarded a USL League One franchise and will kick off its first professional season in 2026. CCFC is building a new home at the Corpus Christi Multi-Sport Complex currently being constructed at 5102 Old Brownsville Road. Phase One of the $28.3 million complex was completed in summer 2025 and a 5,000-seat stadium, which will serve as home for all of the Sharks’ USL League One home games, is currently under construction.
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