By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Jennifer Jones
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata men's soccer was unable to overcome regional opponent Misericordia University this afternoon, falling 2-0 for the Eagles first home loss of the year. The Cougars scored the game winner in the 14th minute on a header from a corner kick.
"I think the guys learned a valuable lesson today in mental preparation," said head coach Dan Dubois. "They weren't mentally prepared. As much as we talked about it they didn't do what they need to, to focus themselves and get themselves ready to go. The energy and the drive and the will has to come from inside each one of them. Now the next big thing is to see, can we learn from that? Can we go out the next game with a lot more energy and can we take it to someone else?"
In the 13-minute the Cougars earned three corner kicks in a row. On the third service into the box, Misericordia's Derek Antonini headed the ball into the net to put the Eagles down 1-0.
"We talked a lot about being ready and what we had to do and how we had to focus and we weren't there," added Dobois. "Luckily they only capitalized on one opportunity in the first half and the game was still in reach. Their goalkeeper made a fantastic save that kept the game at 1-0. We started to have to push a little bit more and we gave up one going the other way. There was going to be a second goal in the game – whether they got it or we got it there was going to be a second goal. We certainly didn't want to lose 1-0. We were going to go out and be the ones to get that second goal or we were going to give it up and see where the chips fell."
The Eagles high-pressure in the second half created a number of opportunities and forced Misericordia's goalkeeper to make five saves. Juniata out cornered the Cougars 3-2 in the second half, but were unable to score and equalizer.
The Eagles next take to the road for a Landmark Conference matchup with U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Juniata returns home Saturday, Oct. 12, at 3:30 pm in the second half of a double header against Goucher College.
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