Box Score Campbellsville University missed numerous one-on-one and open goal opportunities as they fell to No. 2 University of Rio Grande in a Mid-South Conference men's soccer battle Saturday night at Finley Stadium.


"The team's very frustrated with the loss, because we didn't think they were a much better team than us .... It's a frustrating loss, because I thought the first 10 minutes we had the game by the neck. We lost a little bit of confidence when we didn't finish those chances," CU head coach Adam Preston said. "They were a good team. In my head, before tonight, I thought maybe we can't compete with the best teams in the nation, but if they're the No. 2 in the nation, then we can compete with anybody."

The Tigers had four shots to Rio's one in the first 10 minutes of the game, including an immediate first strike by Tiger freshman forward Jamie Allen of England. Allen's first of three shots in the game was stopped by Rio goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi. It was Viscosi's first of four saves in the game.

Pontus Yngve and Ramiro Sanchez each also had three shots in the game, including an open-goal header by Sanchez that missed wide in the 63rd minute.

"Good forwards are going to be streaky. Any game it can change. For us to win, both of those guys (Allen and Sanchez) have to put the ball in the back of the net for us to beat the top guys out there," Preston said.

After the Tigers were unable to convert on their first four shots, Rio flipped the field and controlled the ball for most of the remaining first half. Chris Anderson gave Rio a 1-0 lead with the eventual game-winning goal in the 27th minute. The RedStorm's second goal came with eight minutes remaining in the game on a direct kick by Joel Thiessen.

A positive note for the Tigers was the return of Casey Clarke, who has missed the last two games after getting injured at Lindsey Wilson College on Sept. 15.

"As soon as he got on the field, he was completely shredding their defense. If we can continue to improve and keep the desire and the passion, then I think we can play with anybody in the country, if they're the No. 2 team," Preston said.

The Tigers (7-2, 0-2 MSC) travel to St. Catharine College on Tuesday, Sept. 28 for a 5 p.m. game.