The Master's University men's soccer team's late push came up just short Thursday night, as the Mustangs dropped a 2-1 match to Hope International at OC Great Park, falling to 2-3-2 overall and 1-1-0 in GSAC play.

Hope International struck first, with Matthias Alcaraz finding the net in the 13th minute for his team-leading seventh goal of the season. The Mustangs answered before halftime, though, as senior Trent Rickard leveled things at 1-1 in the 31st minute, his eighth goal of the year.

The Royals regained the lead early in the second half when Julian Benitez converted off a Gera Montellano assist in the 52nd minute, and that proved to be the difference.

TMU didn't go quietly though. The Mustangs poured on 13 second-half shots and outshot Hope International 17-14 for the game, with Rickard doing most of the damage. He fired seven shots on the night, including a post that just wouldn't go in during the closing minutes. Franco Barba made six saves in net to keep it a one-goal game deep into the second half, but the Mustangs couldn't find the equalizer.

"HIU is very good but we had lots of chances after the score was 2-1 to tie it up and push for the game winner," TMU Head Coach Jim Rickard said. "I was so proud of their fight and battling to the end. It was the hard but real side to soccer that in a low scoring game if you don't finish your chances you will have a crushing loss."

Peyton Gorans also had opportunities with two close shots on goal late in the second half. 

The game had its fair share of chippiness, picking with three HIU yellow cards in a stretch after the 83rd minute as TMU pushed for the tying goal, and Michael Masimango was called for a yellow as well.

The Mustangs will look to bounce back when GSAC play continues this week against Life Pacific. It will be Senior Day for TMU on Saturday.