Michelle St. Louis

Wildcats Suffer 2-1 Loss to HSU

10/8/2017 5:01:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information - Todd Rylas

Box Score

Saturday afternoon the Louisiana College men's soccer team faced the Cowboys of Hardin-Simmons Univ. in Abilene, TX in an American Southwestern Conference show down. Three second half goals would bring the match to a nail biting finish but HSU managed to hold on and win 2-1.

The first 45 minutes of the game were evenly fought for with both sides coming out strong and testing the opposition.

HSU played long balls into the corners trying to get a throw-in or a corner from them. For the most part the LC prevented any true development from the play, clearing most of floating balls away.

HSU also played a relaxed press, meaning that they did not attack the ball if it was in LC's half, allowing them to do as they wished until they came into their half. That scheme allowed LC to swing the ball wide to their outside backs and try attacking down the sidelines. There was some success in it but mid-field interplay was LC's backbone.

Both teams had limited chances in the first half, HSU had seven shots to LC's five, Carlos Enriquez had one save, four in the game, while Nathan Gautreaux had two saves, and five for the game.

The game would open up five minutes into the second half.

Winning a corner moments before, HSU was packed in the 18 –yard box. Initially cleared away by an LC player's head, the ball was recycled into the box from the right side back across the top of the 18, past an LC player's missed clearance, where Jorge Cerrillo blasted a right footed grounded shot under the jumping defense.

The Cats would not be put down, countering Cerrillo's shot with one of their own.
HSU would continue to press the backline, abandoning the relaxed press, and having to send balls long to clear the danger, LC forwards were there to fight for the ball. Francisco Silvestre received the ball and went for goal.

The chance looked far off at first shooting the ball roughly 30 yards from goal but the high slow-moving curled ball was to awkward for Enriquez to handle and it creped in above his glove. Running back to his bench, Silvestre and the rest of the team cheered and screamed knowing that leaving Abilene with a point in conference was needed. Tying the game at one a piece in the 56^th minute.

But letting LC go home with a point was not on the Cowboys' mind, continuing harder after the goal to break the tie, more long balls and pressure followed.

Sending a rather easy ball into the box, an LC player ran to the ball to clear but an unlucky judgment from him allowed the ball to hit his arm. The center referee pointed to the spot and the Cowboys had a penalty kick. Frane Vidosevic grabbed the ball and fixed it on the painted circle twelve yards from goal. Shooting his hands out side, Gautreaux stood in the goal ready for the shot. Vidosevic approached the ball and sent it the opposite direction of Gautreaux, down the middle giving the Cowboys a goal lead.

Not giving up on the game, LC pushed and pushed numbers forward on counterattacks and wide attacks yet when in front of goal nothing could materialize. Wide or high shots were all that could be taken; the only time Enriquez was questioned was from distance.

Within the last ten minutes of the game LC coach Claudy St. Louis thought his team was denied a prime scoring chance. After making a save, Enriquez caught the ball and dropped it to the ground. When a Cat came to pressure him he picked it back up, creating a hand ball situation. Arguing with the referee about the situation for an indirect free kick in the box but the referee said no.

The missed call was LC's last call, as the final whistle blew and Cats left without a point.

The loss drops them to 1-9 on the season and 1-6 in conference. Not having a big break, the Cats host William Carry Univ. of Mississippi Tuesday the tenth at Wildcat Stadium. The non-conference game is set to kick-off at 4:30 p.m. For more on the LC Men's Soccer Team following them on Facebook under Louisiana College Men's Soccer, Instagram and twitter at LC_MSOC.

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