Late Goal Dooms Stags in 1-0 Defeat to UT Dallas

RICHARDSON, Texas – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer team had the better of play for most of the contest, but fell on a late goal as it dropped a 1-0 decision at UT Dallas on Saturday afternoon.

The Stags, who were playing 24 hours after a big 3-1 win over No. 9 Trinity, fall to 2-2 on the young season with the loss, with an overtime defeat to Oglethorpe last week and a 1-0 defeat in the 88th minute this evening. UT Dallas moves to 3-1 on the season with the win.

CMS held a 15-8 edge in shots on the day, but weren't able to have success putting their attempts on frame, with John Nicknish making one save to get the shutout (off a shot from junior forward Daniel Rohde, who had a goal and an assist in yesterday's win). Sophomore goalie Jacob Mays had four saves for the Stags before taking the tough-luck defeat.

The game-winning goal was scored with only 2:50 left in the game, as Jordan Henderson found the back of the net for the Comets off an assist from Brad Rivenes. CMS pushed forward in the closing minutes, but was unable to get off a shot attempt to tie it.

The Stags held a 9-3 edge in shot attempts in the first half, and were up 10-3 in that department through 60 minutes, before the consecutive games in the Texas heat seemed to favor the hosts down the stretch (UT Dallas defeated Johnson & Wales 4-1 on Friday, while the Stags defeated Trinity). After Mays had a save in the 61st minute, the Stags brought in five subs which gave them new life for a short stretch as CMS pushed its shot edge up to 14-4 with four attempts in a row by the 71st minute.

Over the last 19 minutes, though, the Comets doubled their shot total before their eighth shot proved to be the difference in the game.

After traveling to Atlanta and Dallas for their first four contests, the Stags will return home for their last non-conference game of the season, battling St. Thomas (Minn.) on Friday night at 7 p.m. in their first contest at Pritzlaff Field this fall.