DALTON, Ga. – Campbellsville University conceded twice in the opening 18 minutes before
Alessandro Martinez halved the deficit, but the Tigers could not find an equalizer despite outshooting Dalton State in a 2-1 road loss Thursday at Dalton, Georgia.
- Campbellsville finished with a 16-14 advantage in total shots and put nine attempts on frame, compared with four for Dalton State.
- The Tigers created sustained pressure after falling behind, recording 10 first-half shots and forcing Dalton State goalkeeper Bernardo Manzano into four saves before the break.
- Martinez scored Campbellsville's goal in the 22nd minute and placed one of his two shots on target.
- Mihlali Blesi generated a match-high seven shots, including four on goal, and struck the post in the 65th minute.
- Izan Garcia Gancedo placed three of his four attempts on frame, giving Blesi and Garcia Gancedo seven of Campbellsville's nine shots on goal.
- Campbellsville held Dalton State scoreless for the final 70 minutes after the Roadrunners scored at 1:02 and 17:11.
- The Tigers earned four first-half corner kicks and conceded only one before halftime, but Dalton State reversed that pressure with four corners in the second half.
Dalton State struck on its first attacking sequence. Pedro Silva's shot was blocked in the opening minute, but David Saldana converted the resulting opportunity at 1:02 to give the Roadrunners an early lead.
Campbellsville responded by pushing numbers forward. Blesi forced saves from Manzano in the sixth and eighth minutes, while Garcia Gancedo had an effort blocked between those attempts.
Martin Sahlstrand sent a shot high following the Tigers' second corner of the match.
The Roadrunners doubled their lead at 17:11 when Fabio Barbosa scored from Nicolas Cuna's service following Dalton State's first corner kick.
The Tigers answered less than five minutes later. After Blesi's initial effort was blocked, Martinez converted at 21:33 to pull Campbellsville within 2-1. Garcia Gancedo forced another save two minutes later, and the Tigers entered halftime with a 10-5 advantage in shots despite trailing by one.
Campbellsville continued to search for the equalizer after the break. Blesi tested Manzano in the 52nd and 61st minutes before Martinez sent an attempt high.
Jon Magnusson then put a shot on goal at 63:44.
The Tigers came within inches of drawing level at 64:39 when Blesi beat the goalkeeper but struck the post. Garcia Gancedo produced Campbellsville's final shot on target in the 72nd minute, forcing Manzano into his eighth save of the match.
Dalton State managed the closing stages without adding to its advantage. Campbellsville goalkeeper
Malthe Schou stopped Bruno Conto in the 79th minute and Silva in the 87th to keep the Tigers within a goal.
Campbellsville moved to 0-2, while Dalton State improved to 2-1.
