Another hard fought match ended in disappointment for the Bruins on Tuesday night as the team fell to Truett-McConnell University in overtime 2-1. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 0-4 on the season.
"It's another heartbreaking way to lose the game and you gotta keep grinding and keep working. You can't quit," Bruins Head Coach Matt Hotckin said. "We've shown an ability to be able to defend well over the course of ninety minutes and be really tough defenders and I'm proud of the guys for that. We just don't have a lot of offense we're generating."
The Bruins came into the game after falling in each of their last three matches by one goal. The team has battled through a difficult schedule to begin the season, but the team had hoped to rebound as they took their home pitch in front of the Bruin faithful at Alumni Stadium.
In the opening minutes, the Bruins were able to generate some possession in the attacking third as Andrew Zhang had a shot on goal. Defensively, the Bruins stood firm on the back line against a strong scoring attack for the Bears. Despite several chances from both teams, the half ended as it began with the score 0-0.
The Bears outshot the Bruins 11-1 in the opening half, but keeper Isaac Landry made three saves for the Bruins. The team knew they were going to have to match the Bears energy offensively in the second half if they hoped to come away with the win.
In the second half, the Bruins got some of that energy as Sebastian Sulik and company were able to generate offensive runs to pressure the Bears net. Unfortunately, the Bears defense stood strong and turned aside opportunities.
Defensively, the Bruins had a few miscues which nearly cost them a goal but Chris Monczewski, who had been subbed in for the second half, made nine saves over the course of the remainder of regulation time.
With the match beginning to wind down, the score remained 0-0. Both teams knew that one could would most likely spell the difference in the result of the game. It looked to be the same story as previous matches for the Bruins as the Bears struck first in the 84th minute with Trevor Fick scoring a goal to make it 1-0.
The Bruins fans went silent as the late-goal seemed to dash hopes for a possible win. Caleb Felber would bring those hopes right back for the Bruins as he scored just two minutes later to even the score at 1-1. As the second period buzzer sounded, the teams prepared for overtime tied 1-1.
In the first overtime period, the Bears nearly ended the game as a shot from Clancy Loudermilk squirted past Monczewski and headed towards the net. Sophomore Caleb Adams stretched for the ball and kicked it out, saving the Bruins from the loss. The buzzer sounded giving the teams just one more period to decide a winner.
The Bruins came out with energy in the second overtime period and put pressure on the Bears net. The Bears responded as good combination play moved the ball into the attacking third. In the 103rd minute, Gasheed Lareche was called for a foul in the box giving the Bears an opportunity for a PK.
Javier Rodriguez assumed the PK duties for the Bears and took a confident penalty just passed the outstretched arms of Chris Monczewski as the Bears won in overtime 2-1.
"I don't want the guys to drop their heads at this point," Coach Hotchkin said. "When it hurts, it's a good thing because it shows our guys care. We tend to play the way the other team is playing. If they are lacking energy, we lack energy. We need to learn how to manage ourselves whatever the competition is."
The Bruins struggled to maintain offensive rhythm as the team was outshot 38-4 in the match including a 17-2 on-goal margin. Caleb Felber notched his first goal of the season for the team while newcomer Victor Oladipo picked up his first assist with the team.
Next up, the Bruins will be back home again on Saturday night as the team competes in their first region contest of the 2019 season. The Bruins will welcome Johnson University (FL) with the kickoff set for 5 p.m.
