MEN’S SOCCER

The HU men’s soccer team suffered their first loss of the season Tuesday night, a 2-1 decision, to #RV Cumberlands. With this loss, the Foresters drop to 2-1-3 on the year.

When you have two talented teams up top that also pride themselves on having stingy defenses, it makes for an intense, emotion-packed contest which is exactly what fans at the UC Soccer Complex witnessed.

The game featured just four shots on frame with three finding back netting. HU keeper Luis Costa robbed the Patriots by making a brilliant save in the first half to deny the only shot on target that didn’t find its home in goal. It made for a 0-0 deadlock through intermission.

After generating nine shots in the first half, the Patriots got one to stick five minutes into the second frame. Even though HU hadn’t spent much time in their offensive third up to that point, they kept the pressure on to remain a threat. The guests’ first shot of the evening came in the 70th minute and their persistence finally paid off in a scurry of activity ten minutes later.

Huntington came up empty on two shots from a corner kick in the 82nd minute but was granted another less than a minute later. This time, Lawson and crew capitalized on the opportunity when Kolton Foster, left-footed, buried a loose ball at the top of the box for the equalizer. It was his first collegiate goal.

Unfortunately, the Patriots responded almost immediately, reclaiming the lead in the 86th minute that they then rode out for the win. The hosts finished with 15 shots to HU’s four. They also won the corner kick battle 8-4.

“It was tough to get the ball from Cumberlands tonight,” said Coach Russ Lawson. “They possessed it well. They have very talented and composed players who set up well tactically.

“But I’m proud of the guys for hanging in there. It was a lunch pail type of day where we defended a lot so when we got the equalizer at the end, it was a fantastic reward. Obviously giving up that goal in the last five minutes was disappointing to say the least but it’s a game we’ll try to learn from moving forward.”

HU is back on the road Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. game under the lights with Lourdes.