McPherson, KS - October 9, 2020
Tigers drop first game of the season
Tigers host OPSU in a SAC conference preview match. Due to conference and nationals moving to the spring the Tigers got to have a match against a conference foe that didn't actually count towards SAC record but would count towards overall record.
Tigers might be thankful that this match didn't count against them in the SAC as they looked like the better team most of the night, but couldn't execute down the stretch and the OPSU Aggies take this match 2-1.
Both the Tigers and Aggies would have a great 1
st half with both defenses not letting each one create opportunities to score. Tiger Midfielder
Ismael Valverde Karduchi would have an opportunity to score in the opening half, but would shoot it a hair too high and keep the game tied going into half at 0-0. The next half would be much more thrilling as both teams would have create offensive opportunities. Aggies would get the first notch on the scoreboard as they would counter after a missed goal by the Tigers. The pace of the game would quicken as both teams tried to get their team opportunity to score.
Matias Nunez would find the back of the net after a pass from teammate
Riccardo Di Viccenco and a nice chip shot over the keeper to tie the game back up at 1 apiece. Shortly after the Tigers would have another opportunity to score and Freshman
Drew Schrader would miss just outside the goal and the Aggies would counter once again and score with only 2 minutes remaining and give the Tigers their first L on the season.
"Tonight was a lesson in how soccer is won and lost. Simply put the game is won and lost in both boxes. We lost concentration on the game winner and didn't follow the second runner. But before that it was our 4 clear cut chances that didn't fall. They took theirs and we failed to take ours. Everything else was just 22 dudes kicking each other."
"I'm very proud of this group though. It's a different attitude than years past. Even when we went down a 2nd goal, we still pushed forward and produced an effort. Our hard working mentality almost carried the day."
Tigers drop to 4-1 and will play again next week against another conference foe USAO in Chickasha, OK.
Go Tigers!
#Ambush
