Marymount defeats TMU Men's Soccer despite Mustang comeback

For the second-straight game, TMU Men's Soccer came back from a two-goal deficit to tie the score. Unfortunately this time, the Mustangs weren't able to salvage a draw as Marymount California University scored a late winner to prevail 3-2 on Thursday afternoon during The Master's Fall Classic.
 
"We are improving every day but have to put two good halves together against all these good teams we are and will play," Master's Head Coach Jim Rickard said. "We've given up a two-goal lead the last two games only to come back in dramatic fashion. One ended in a tie and today ended in a late-goal loss."
 
The Mariners scored twice in the opening half, the first with a thundering volley from outside the box just over five minutes in.
 
In the 30th minute, the Mustangs had a glorious opportunity to equalize when Giorgio Martino's shot was saved into the path of Aidan Rohde, whose point-blank effort was miraculously saved by the Marymount goalkeeper.
 
The visitors then doubled their advantage in the 41st minute to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
 
"I am encouraged with the tenacity and effort but it takes us too much time for us to believe in each other," Rickard said. "We are still slow in important communication, which put us in jeopardy and Marymount punished us for it both times."
 
After the break, TMU picked up its offensive intensity and was rewarded in the 65th minute when Theo Kudlo scored his first Mustang goal.
 
Kudlo picked the pocket of a Marymount center back before driving toward the goal and promptly chipping the keeper from about 30 yards out.
 
Master's completed the comeback less than 10 minutes later when Martino scored his third goal of the season, the most on the Mustangs. Rohde, credited with his team-leading third assist, passed out wide to Martino at the right corner of the box, where he cut onto his left foot and curled his shot into the side-netting.
 
TMU seemed to have all the momentum on its side until a red card left the Mustangs down a man for the final 15 minutes. Marymount capitalized with five minutes to play, scoring the game-winner off a header from a corner kick.
 
"In the second half, we had a smart finish from Theo and a nice one-v-one finish from Giorgio, but a missed assignment on a corner caused us to give up the game-winner," Rickard said.
 
The Mustangs (2-3-1 overall) return to Reese Field on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. match with UC Merced, who is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll.