Bourbonnais, Ill. — The Aquinas men's soccer team fought back on two separate occasions but couldn't escape from being dealt a loss Tuesday evening (Sept. 6) against (RV) Olivet Nazarene. The Saints (3-2 overall) lost 3-2 in a tightly contested road affair against the Tigers (4-1).
Olivet Nazarene never trailed. Yet, Aquinas remained in striking distance for a majority of the match. The score was either tied or the Saints trailed by a single goal for roughly 85 of the 90 minutes. But, eventually, the time ran out and AQ suffered its second loss of the season.
The Tigers broke the scoreless deadlock. A through ball in the 14th minute by Benjamin Struebelt created enough space for Max Jasper to chip the ball up and over Aquinas goalkeeper
Antonio Strassioto for the opening goal.
Strassioto felt helpless again, despite putting forth his best effort, after he made a diving save in the 40th minute to keep out a driven free kick that was destined for the top right corner. Unable to hold the save, however, the rebound fell in front of multiple Tigers looking to pounce on the loose ball. Struebelt got there first and added a goal to go along with his earlier assist.
The Saints answered back in a hurry. Less than a minute later, sophomore defenseman
Joshua Clemitson scored his first goal of the season, third of his collegiate career, on a corner kick that Olivet Nazarene failed to clear. Clemitson gathered the ball at the front post and cut the Tigers' lead in half, 2-1, going into halftime.
Olivet Nazarene emphatically restored its two-goal advantage in the 55th minute on a looping strike from outside the box by Kurodo Ihara. The long-range effort dipped under the crossbar for Ihara's second goal of the season.
Four minutes later, AQ again had a quick response off another corner kick. Reigning WHAC Offensive Player of the Week,
Theo Maye, delivered a perfect cross to the back post finding the head of sophomore defender
Joe Lockey for the Saints second tally. Like Clemitson, it was also Lockey's first goal of the season and third of his collegiate career.
Scoring chances went begging at both ends in the final half hour, as the Tigers held on to secure their sixth straight win at the Snowbarger Athletic Complex dating back to last season.
Olivet Nazarene outshot AQ 15-9 (10-5 shots on target). Strassioto made seven saves.
Aquinas finished with eight more fouls (19-11) and seven yellow cards. While the Tigers picked up two yellow cards.
The Saints are off for the rest of the week. AQ returns to action next Tuesday (Sept. 13) against No. 13-ranked Bethel on the road in Mishawaka, Ind. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
