BLUE MOUNTAIN, MS – The Louisiana State University of Alexandria men's soccer team dropped their season opener to Blue Mountain Christian University, 2-0.
"Far from our best today," LSUA Head Coach
Mackenzie Young said. "We didn't take the chances we had and conceded two poor goals. We'll get back to work on Monday and prepare for Wednesday."
The Generals (0-1-0) outshot the Toppers (1-0-0) 12-8 in the loss. They held BMCU to just two shots in the first half.
LSUA surrendered a goal in the final five minutes of each half.
Ben McCarron had a trio of shots blocked in the first 10 minutes of the contest.
Thiago Lopes slipped a shot through the defense in the 28
th minute but it was stymied by Luan Nascimento.
The Toppers first shot of the game came in the 26
th minute. It wasn't until the final 25 seconds BMCU received another chance at goal. Dipanda Silva Jr. converted a free kick in the final seconds of the half to give the Toppers the lead.
LSUA generated seven shots in the second half, alongside eight corner kicks. The Generals had three corner kicks over a two-minute span in the 56
th minute but the Toppers' defense held the line.
In the 62
nd minute, Silva Jr. was awarded a penalty for a chance to double BMCU's lead. He sent the chance wide to keep the margin at one.
Jayden Peglar made a pair of saves in the second half as his side searched for an equalizing goal, turning away Sammuel Davi Cavalcante in the 75
th and Alfonso Vasquez in the 79
th.
The Generals sent three shots wide before Lopes again tested Nascimento in the 76
th minute. The Toppers' keeper came up with the save to preserve the lead.
Silva Jr. tacked on the insurance marker in the 87
th minute. Just seconds later,
Pablo Novoa Martin forced Nascimento into action as the Generals tried to climb back into the game in the final minutes.
LSUA hosts Texas Wesleyan University on Wednesday, August 26, at 3:00 PM in the Generals' home opener.
