Photo by Natalia Ahrens
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College men's soccer team dropped their first game of the spring, falling to the Benedictine College Ravens at home 3-1.
The opening 45 minutes on Thursday may have been the worst stretch of soccer played by the Bulldogs all season. They controlled the ball for most of the half, but three mistakes in their defensive third of the field led to three goals by the Ravens. After a miserable first half, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing the Ravens 3-0.
In the second half, the Bulldogs played much cleaner. The dominated the time of possession, and the shots on goal in the half. Just nine minutes into the second half, at the 54 minute mark, Sam Box got the Bulldogs on the board with a beautiful shot from just outside the 18 yard box on the right side. Jorge Abdiel Ramos Hernandez won the ball in the midfield, and played a ball to Rodrigo de Castro on the right wing. De Castro took a touch and then played the ball into Box. Sam took a touch and then fired far post over the outstretched arm of the Raven goal keeper.
Unfortunately even though they kept up good pressure on the Ravens they were unable to find the net the rest of the way.
Jose Alonso got the start in goal for the Bulldogs and was saddled with the loss. He faced just three shots on goal, but they all found their way into the back of the net. Colby Swift played the second half. He was credited with one save.
Coach Quint commented on the loss saying, "That was as bad of a first half performance by us as I've seen in a while. Our second half was much better, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole. At the end of the day the game is played for 90 minutes not 45."
The Bulldog are off until next Saturday when they host the #15 team in the nation, the Bellevue University Bruins. Kick-off at Paul Family Field is slated for 3:00 pm.Â
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