Men’s soccer falls to Seattle
Senior forward Allen Luhrs slides over Seattle University’s Noe Meza. The Toreros had just three total shots in their loss to the Redhawks.
Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista
Toreros shut out at home in tough 4-0 loss to Redhawks
Last week was a tough one for the USD men’s soccer team. Their loss to the Seattle University Redhawks last Wednesday night was the team’s third game in just six days. USD won only one of those games – an overtime victory against UNLV. Seattle took an early lead and tacked on three more goals by the end of the game for a 4-0 victory. The win moved Seattle to a 5-3 record, while the Toreros dropped to 3-4-2.
Seattle dominated the early stages of the match, not allowing the Toreros much space to pass and move in the Redhawk half of the field. The pressure paid dividends for Seattle, with the Redhawks’ first goal coming from a defensive error. USD defender Patrick Krall’s pass was blocked, the ball falling to Seattle forward Declan McGlynn, who smashed the ball into the back of the net just nine minutes into the match.
Defender George West, who has moved from his usual position to midfield in recent games, explained the effects of conceding an early goal.
“It changes our mentality,” West said. “Obviously we would like to keep ourselves in the match and stop conceding, especially without getting any yellow cards or giving anything silly away.”
USD momentarily made their way back into the match, with midfielder Paul Ramlow narrowly missing after a series of corner kicks for the Toreros. Fifteen minutes later, Krall had a chance to score, but his long-range shot flew just inches over the goal.
Throughout the first half, Seattle played well on fast-break opportunities, and the Redhawks finally capitalized on one with seven minutes left before halftime. After crisp passing down the right-hand side of the field, midfielder Hamish Ritchie headed the ball past Torero goalkeeper Connor Hountalas for the visitors’ second goal.
Down 2-0 at the break, Torero head coach Brian Quinn’s halftime message was simple – get back into the game.
“The way to get back in the game was that we would go press high, try to create opportunities, put Seattle under pressure,” Quinn said. “The first five to seven minutes we accomplished that, I thought, but then they got the third goal and the game was over.”
The Toreros were unlucky conceding the third goal. Hountalas made a fantastic save, diving to his right to palm a long-range shot away. Unfortunately, the rebound fell right in front of Seattle forward Noe Meza, who tapped the ball into the unguarded net. Although there were over 30 minutes remaining, the game was out of reach for the Toreros. Seattle looked like they would score a fourth goal only two minutes after their third, but Hountalas once again made a superb diving stop, and this time controlled the rebound.
To their credit, down 3-0 and struggling to create scoring chances, USD refused to give up.
“I believe the team put in a lot of effort, but we didn’t have good performances,” Quinn said.
Seattle iced the game with seven minutes left. Hountalas denied McGlynn in a one-on-one situation, but the ball trickled through the USD keeper’s legs, allowing McGlynn a second chance. The Seattle forward played the ball to midfielder Orlando Neto, who scored easily on the empty net.
The loss was USD’s second game conceding four goals, the first coming against #2 Duke, also at home. However, last Wednesday’s poor defensive performance is not a significant concern for Quinn.
“We’re a little banged up, with Henry Lander unavailable, and Josiah Benjamin injured, and Aidan Marmion out,” Quinn said about his defensive group. “The guys that started tonight, it will probably be the same group (next game), and we’ve got a couple days before we go to Northridge to work on the back four.”
West has filled in for Lander, with Krall and third-year Chase Van Wey taking the places of Marmion and Benjamin, respectively. For West, his coaches and teammates have made the transition from midfield back to defense easier.
“My coaches just allow me to play my game and see the field, and I have good enough teammates to help me back there,” West said. “It’s been mostly a positive ride, a couple bumps in the road here and there, but it’s been a positive transition.”
Quinn estimates that Lander, Benjamin, and Marmion will be available to play again for the Toreros’ West Coast Conference opener, on the road against the University of San Francisco.
The Toreros’ next home match is on Friday, Sept. 28 against the UC Riverside Highlanders at 7 p.m. at Torero Stadium.