By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: JD Cavrich 

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Juniata College men's soccer team suffered its first loss Tuesday afternoon, falling to Lycoming College at the Shangraw Athletic Complex. The Warriors scored two quick goals to start the second half. Juniata scored in the closing two minutes in the game, but was unable to cap off the comeback before the final whistle blew.

"I told the guys after the game, there are days when the other team beats you and there are days when you don't go out and win the game," said head coach Dan Dubois. "Today we didn't go out and win the game. Lycoming played well. They worked hard for their opportunities and we didn't work hard to get ours."

The two teams traded shots throughout the half with the Warriors just out shooting the Eagles 4-3. In the closing minutes Juniata got a golden opportunity when they earned two corner kicks in a row. But Lycoming was able to clear out the threat and the two teams ended the half scoreless.

The Warriors were aggressive in the second half and, at the 46:03 mark, scored their first goal of the match. Just over 11 minutes later, Lycoming added what would be a much-needed insurance goal off a corner kick.

"They scored early in the second half and that kind of knocked us on our heels," said Dubois. "They were just working harder for the game than we were."

The Eagles looked to get back into the match launching four shots and forcing Lycoming's goalkeeper to make two saves in the second half. Juniata received a free kick in the Warriors territory and capitalized with less than two minutes remaining. Freshman Steven Stroup (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) nailed home a ball from senior Seth Ruggiero (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) for the first goal of his career.

"The goal that we got came because we worked for it and that's great," said Dubois. "But you can't wait until the last five or so minutes of the game to get to work. You're not going to win that way. We weren't aggressive enough and let some opportunities go by."

Time ran out quickly and the Eagles walked away from Williamsport with their first loss of the season. 

"Our game plan is working, we just didn't execute it today," added Dubois. "We'll get back to it in training this week and stick to what we know. It's worked so far this year. The guys are good. They are strong. They know what they need to do. Even before we spoke to them after the game they were saying the right things to each other. They know what they need to do and now it's just a matter of doing it."

The Eagles are now 5-1-1 on the year. Juniata returns home this Saturday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. to face Hood College. The Eagles have won the last two meetings between the two teams by a combined score of 3-0.

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