DANVILLE, Ky. - After dropping the opening 2 SAA games last week, Centre Men's Soccer went a different route on Friday looking for a spark. The Colonels started six freshman and only two upperclassmen. The youthful group fought hard but came up just short in a 1-0 defeat to #13 Southwestern.
Oliver Moore,
Chandler Hamilton,
Kai Forsythe,
Landon Davis,
Carter Sipes and
Daniel Jackson were the six first-year players who started the night. They led an aggressive, energetic effort against the Pirates. Southwestern dominated possession for much of the night but could not muster many looks on goal against the Colonels. Shot attempts proved to be at a premium from both sides all night long. Through 30 minutes, each side had just two shots, but none were on target. Centre's best chances in the first half came in a 30-second stretch around the 36th minute.
Landon Davis and
Ryan O'Hara both had decent looks in the box but could not find a way by the Pirate keeper. The game remained scoreless at the break.
Centre started the same group for the second half and began to up the physicality against the Pirates. The Colonels were called for 3 fouls and a yellow card in the first 3-plus minutes of the half. The style of play is not out of the norm for Centre, but this night was about showing the youngsters would not back down against a top-15 opponent. Sophomore
Declan Miller came up with 2 stellar saves in the 52nd and 60th minutes to keep the game level. Southwestern's possession and field control would eventually pay off. In the 72nd minute, a perfect set piece from the Pirates resulted in the lead. A corner kick into the box was headed to a spot in the goal that neither
Declan Miller nor most goalkeepers would get to. Southwestern took the 1-0 lead. The Pirates would continue for another. It would not come, but Centre's offense also could not muster a quality look the rest of the way in falling to 0-3 in the league.
The Colonels will look to continue the progression on Sunday when Trinity comes to town. Kickoff is set for 1:30pm.
