With under a minute to play, the Bruins and Lions continued to battle with the fans in Alumni Stadium expecting the match to go to extra time. Instead, Piedmont College scored a late goal with just thirty seconds remaining to spoil the Bruins home opener and win the match 1-0. The nearly 1,500 fans were stunned as the final buzzer signaled the loss.
"It's a heartbreaking way to end our first game," Bruins Head Coach Matt Hotchkin said. "I thought our guys had so many opportunities to seal the game and get the win, but I am so proud of these guys and the way they played tonight. These guys played with a lot of courage and a lot of passion so it hurts for our guys because they really wanted to win this game but I feel this is a win for us tonight."
From the opening kickoff, the Bruins and Lions went back and forth with both teams trying to establish pace and tempo of the game. The Bruins defense did well in slowing the Lion strikers as Caleb Adams and Luke Morcos helped to foil offensive runs.
Offensively, the Bruins were able to generate good looks early on thanks to good combination play as they moved the ball into the attacking third. Andrew Zhang and Sebastian Sulik each had great looks on frame near the midway point of the half, but Lions keeper Cameron Verona made five saves throughout the opening half to keep the Bruins off the board. Despite several chances for both teams, the Bruins and Lions ended the half as they began it tied 0-0.
In the second half, both teams knew that one goal would likely be the difference maker. Each offense played with urgency, but shots continued to sail wide or be stopped by the goalkeeper. The Lions nearly broke the scoreless tie in the 74th minute as a cross was played into the box and redirected towards the goal. Bruins keeper Isaac Landry dove to his right and made the save to keep the game scoreless.
With the game drawing to a close, both teams left it all on the field in search of that elusive first goal. It would come with just thirty seconds left in the match. After gaining possession, the Lions were able to clear some space and bent a pass towards the Bruins box. Lions striker Cameron Earls jumped and headed the ball which redirected it past the outstrecthed arms of Isaac Landry and landed in the back of the net. The Lions bench went crazy as players piled on Earls in the corner. The final buzzer completed the match with the Bruins falling 1-0.
"We had a great crowd tonight so it was disappointing to end the way we did," Coach Hotchkin said. "The guys are coming together as a team and challenging each other. We've only been at this for two week and they are already challenging each other in ways they haven't in the past. Our guys are getting more comfortable in their positions and demanding more out of each other. It's a process, but tonight the guys showed signs of really caring about what they were doing."
The Bruins outshot the Lions in the first half 8-7 but were outshot 6-1 in the second half. The game was physical throughout as three cautions and thirty-one fouls were called over the course of the 90 minutes of play. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 0-1 to begin the season.
Next up, the Bruins will be on the road on September 6 as they play Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
