Box Score KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- National title hopes slowly began to fade goal after goal for the Campbellsville University men's soccer team Wednesday night, as the Tigers fell 4-0 to Cedarville University in the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament.
 

The fourth-seeded Tigers (17-6) drop into the consolation bracket and will face Hope International University (Calif.) Thursday at 5 p.m. The best Campbellsville can finish is fifth of eight teams.

"We came out flat. You cannot come to a knockout tournament and come out flat," CU head coach Adam Preston said. "Credit to Cedarville, they came with pressure and came to fight hard. We got out worked on every ball. You're going to really struggle to win a game like that."

Despite being beat to most 50-50 balls in the midfield the Tigers out shot Cedarville to start each half. The fifth-seeded Yellow Jackets Cedarville took a 1-0 halftime lead in the 23^rd minute when Timmy Waller pushed the ball from the right side of the midfield, past the Tiger defense and had a shot deflect off a CU defender for the go-ahead goal.

CU's early attacking in the second half was calmed after Chris Collins-Reed was called for a penalty when clearing the ball from Cedarville midfielder James Twinem about 10 yards out from the goal. Twinem converted the PK for a 2-0 lead and later scored on a breakaway that was partially deflected by CU goalkeeper James Clements in the 71^st minute. The final goal came in the 86^th minute off another PK by Stephen Schindler.

CU had another offensive burst in the final 15 minutes, but were still unable to find the back of the net. Casey Clarke and Ramiro Sanchez led CU with two shots on goal each, while Alex Adams and Jamie Allen each had one.

"Despite of them out working us, we had our chances to put it together, and just didn't. They had lulls in their energy, and had we taken advantage of those opportunities, I think we could have won their backs, but they got a goal early and a couple of penalty kicks. It's just the way the game goes sometimes, and it's frustrating."

Following the loss, Preston pulled his team together to commend them on a 17-win season and emphasis that they have the decision how the seniors' careers will end.

"I know a loss is tough, but look around. You're playing in a national tournament in Florida. Your season didn't end back home in Kentucky or at conference," Preston told his team.

He also stressed that the players had a chance to still make history, as their 17 wins currently ties the school record.

"We've actually had a lot of alumni calling and e-mailing about that," Preston said. "This is a chance for these guys to leave another mark on the program. Their influence is so evident on this whole team and this is their chance to leave it on paper."