Close, but no cigar.
This seems to be the men’s soccer team’s reality this season.
Losing another match in the closing minutes, the Quakers didn’t have enough steam to finish out the game against Villanova yesterday.
In the 76th and 80th minutes, Wildcats’ freshman Max Kroschwitz scored the first two games of his college career to surpass Penn and finish out the game with a win, 2-1.
The Quakers (2-4) started the match off strong. The first five shots of the afternoon were sent from Penn including two from senior forward Stephen Baker. Penn was the first to score with a goal from junior midfield Duke Lacroix in the 29th minute of play.
In the 47th minute, right at the start of the second half, the Red and Blue earned two corner kicks off Villanova (3-3-1), neither of which they were able to score a goal on. Senior Austin Kinn got a header off of Baker’s kick but it was saved by Villanova junior goalie Andrew Weakly.
The Quakers succeeded in holding the Wildcats off for the majority of the game with their a score of 1-0. However, once again, they lost steam at the end of the game.
Kroschwitz’s two goals in the last 15 minutes of play dashed Quaker hopes to break the three-game losing streak.
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Though the ultimate result was a loss, Penn outshot the Wildcats, 23-10. Junior midfields Louis Schott and Lacroix tied for leading the Quakers in shots, each respectively with six total and two on goal.
Senior goal keeper Tyler Kinn tied his career high, making six saves.
Penn’s performance yesterday is eerily familiar to its match against Cal Poly almost two weeks ago. In its first game in California, the Quakers led the Mustangs, 2-1, until the last 10 minutes. Cal Poly made two shots in the 81st and 87th minute to steal the game away from the Red and Blue.
After winning its two opening home games, the Red and Blue has fallen to every team since. The team is now on a four game losing streak. Excitement surrounding the hope of a new and improved men’s soccer program seems to be fading and the resemblance to the 2012 season is striking.
SEE ALSO
Penn men’s soccer thrashed by Georgetown
Neumann brothers to duke it out at Rhodes Field
Penn men’s soccer’s Pillon and Engs meet miles from home
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