Michelle St. Louis

MSOC Drop 2-0 Decision to Comets

9/24/2017 1:16:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Todd Ryals

Box Score

Saturday afternoon, the Louisiana College men's soccer team was in Richardson, TX to face American Southwest Conference foe Univ. of Texas at Dallas. The Cats would fall behind early to a penalty kick in the 15th minute after a handball in the box, and fall to the Comets 2-0 on the day.

The game would start off well for the Cats behind solid defending and a creative mid-field. LC held possession but could not create any promising forward attack. The Comets possession and ability to find space wide allowed them to push numbers forward and try the LC backline.

The LC defense would allow shots from distance, the shots were grounded and never threatened Cat keeper Nathan Gautreaux, stopping eight shots in the first half. The Comets would try to send the ball wide to cross it back in but the Cats were in position preventing any clean chance at goal.

Working the ball out from the back, Dallas' mid-field attacked down LC's right side. Working along the touchline, a Dallas player dribbled past the LC wing-back and stroked a long ball into the box where a Dallas player was waiting. An LC defender and the Dallas player both went for the ball but missed; behind them another Cat was positioned, unaware of the missed ball, his hand hit the ball causing the center official to point to the spot and award Dallas a penalty.

Kasden Williams fixed the ball on the spot and took a couple steps back, waiting for the whistle. He fired his shot to Gautreaux's right. The senior keeper dove correctly but Williams' shot was inches better, beating Gautreaux's outstretched glove into the side netting.

The game resumed and so did the Dallas attack. LC dropped numbers behind the ball to stop the Comet push, allowing the ball to be played wide but pressuring when played forward. LC's offense was present but did not hold the ball well while in Dallas' half. The Comets also dropped behind the ball, forcing perfect passes to break them.

The Cats had life on long balls from set pieces, sending tall bodies into the box trying to get a head on the ball. The best chance of the first half came off a free kick around the halfway line.

Played short, Phay San dribbled into Dallas' final third and fired a shot. Dallas blocked the shot for a corner. From the corner San played a short ball to Alex Okuma, he dribbled to the outside of the 18 yard box but Dallas was ready blocking his shot starting their counterattack.

Flipping the field off the blocked shot, Dallas' Jordan Henderson tried a right footed shot from the Cats right side but Gautreaux was prepared. The save ended the Dallas attack and kept the score at 1-0 at the end of 45 minutes.

During haft-time, LC Coach Claudy St. Louis delivered motivation for the Cats, returning back to life after the restart. Starting with the ball the Wildcats pushed forward, Francisco Silvestre received a pass from the mid-field and pressed the Comet backline shifting from their left to right and opting for a left footed strike, the effort was wide but showed they were still fighting for a score.

The Comets slowed down the game, working the ball side to side waiting for an opening to play through. The LC defense held their form and kept the shots of Dallas from afar.

A foul from Dallas placed the ball around the halfway line, sending numbers forward, LC played a long ball into the box but waiting Dallas defenders cleared the ball to their forward. Collecting the ball before the midway line, Alfredo Kaegi headed forward, one-on-one with a Wildcat defender, he pushed down the right side of LC. The pace of Kaegi beat the defender moving the ball just outside the six yard box, firing with his left foot, Gautreaux couldn't stop the near post shot, extending Dallas' lead to two in the 63rd minute.

Restarting after the goal progressing into Comet territory, LC gained a free kick. Quickly taken to San, pushing the ball forward and firing at Chase Therrien's goal, the shot summed up the day for the Cats, being offensive but missing wide.

Subs for both sides would fill the remaining minutes trying to extend or decrease their position on the scoreboard. Dallas' Subs would benefit the most, fitting right in where the others were but could not top Kaegi.

A late push from LC would bring the game to a nail-biting finish. A missed handball deflection in the Dallas penalty box and far off shots riddled the Cats to their second loss of the weekend.

The Wildcats fall to 1-6-0 on the season and 1-2 in conference. Returning home for a few days rest before a Thursday ASC clash vs. the Univ. of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The game starts at 7 p.m. under the lights of Wildcat Stadium. 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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