TMU Men's Soccer falls in GSAC opener despite shot advantage

Despite outshooting William Jessup University, 17-7, The Master's University men's soccer team came out on the wrong side of a 3-0 result on Reese Field on Thursday afternoon. The match was the Golden State Athletic Conference opener for both programs.
 
"We had a great week of practice and came out very sharp moving the ball well, even into a 25 mph wind," Master's head coach Jim Rickard said. "We had some good chances, but we didn't take advantage of them."
 
The Mustangs had a dangerous opportunity in the 10th minute, when Giorgio Martino beat a defender on the dribble. His cross found Aidan Rohde at the top of the six-yard box, only for his goal-bound shot to be blocked by the Warrior defense.
 
Martino worked himself a couple quality looks cutting inside from the left flank, but his right-footed shots just missed the frame.
 
William Jessup (3-2, 1-0 GSAC) found a breakthrough off a nifty one-two combination at the top of the box just over 27 minutes into the match.
 
"Our scout was to be very wary of their counter-attack and to not let No. 10 be alone with the ball," Rickard said. "We got scored under those exact circumstances."
 
Then just in the 41st minute, Jesus Torres forced a diving save with a shot from 30 yards out.
 
Just five minutes into the second period, the visitors doubled their lead after TMU goalkeeper Price Anderson saved the initial Warrior free kick.
 
Four minutes after the Mustangs conceded a second goal, Peter Mackay's left-footed corner kick found the head of Kellen Dresdow, whose headed effort was denied by an outstretched, one-handed save.
 
In the 62nd minute, Rohde's cross was flicked on by Brayden Campos to Theo Kudlo eight yards from goal, but the Jessup goalkeeper stayed big to make another pivotal save.
 
Three minutes later, Jessup added a third to dampen the Mustangs' comeback hopes.
 
"The last two goals were some shaky decision-making on our part and we were punished for it," Rickard said. "Jessup is a well-coached team that just keeps grinding and today those things paid off for them."
 
In the 78th minute, TMU came close to scoring again when Martino's back heel off a Kudlo free kick forced the Warrior goalie into his fifth and final save of the afternoon.
 
"At this point we have to find a way to get some goals," Rickard said. "The emotional letdown of doing well, then getting scored on against the run of play with the first goal was discouraging."
 
Master's (1-2-1, 0-1 GSAC) now hits the road to take on Arizona Christian (3-3, 1-0 GSAC) and Ottawa University Arizona (3-1, 1-0 GSAC) on March 3 and 4.