By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – In hard fought match on Sassafras field, the Juniata College men's soccer team dropped its first Landmark Conference match of the year to Susquehanna University, 1-0. The Eagles fell to 11-3-2 overall and 2-1-1 in conference play with three league matches remaining.
"Even though they scored really late we had an opportunity to tie it up at the end there," said head coach Dan Dubois. "We worked hard. We've worked hard all year to make sure we can stay in the games like this and have the opportunity to win. It's not surprising to us that we were right there. It's disappointing that we didn't get the result we wanted, but the guys stuck to the game plan, they executed the game plan, and when we do that we're going to give ourselves a chance to reach our post-season goals. Sometimes you have to get a lucky bounce here or there and today we didn't get that."
In the first half both teams struggled to find solid opportunities in front of the net. The Eagles were able to outshoot the Crusaders 3-1 with Susquehanna earning the edge in corner kicks 3-0.
"We still have three of the better conference teams left to play," said Dubois. "I think Susquehanna is one of the top dogs so this match proves to us that we can play with everybody. We're looking forward to the challenges that are coming up with Catholic and Merchant Marine this weekend and Drew at home in the last game of the season. We can still get what we want. This loss has to toughen us up and show us that we can play. It can't be something that discourages us."
In the second half both teams gained dangerous goal scoring opportunities. In the 74th minute, Susquehanna launched an attack that was sure to have the game winner, but freshman Blaine Barsch (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) came up with two point blank saves and sophomore Dylan Thompson (Broomfield, Colo./Peak to Peak Charter) blocked a shot while standing on the end line to keep the score at 0-0. With less than five minutes remaining in the match, Susquehanna finished a shot off a corner kick for the lone goal of the match.
"The big thing [we'll take] from this game is the positive, we are getting back to the soccer that we were playing at the beginning of the season," added Dubois. "We're playing against better teams now and still being able to execute and move the ball the way we want to. The part that we've added in, that the guys were able to see today, is that the defensive intensity is going to make the difference for us the rest of the way. If we don't have the defensive intensity we're not going to get the opportunities to go forward because we're just going to be defending the entire game. That really came together today."
Juniata next travels to Washington D.C. to face Catholic on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
"Catholic has always been a very good passing team, maybe one of the best in the conference," said Dubois. "They play a lot like we do. It should be another great matchup. I think it's going to be another one down to the wire like this. We'll get our opportunities. I'm sure they'll have their opportunities. I'm sure it's just going to be who capitalizes."
The Eagles return home Saturday Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m. in the second half of a Landmark doubleheader with the women's program against Drew University.
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