ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Louisiana College men's soccer team had a renewed vigor out of the halftime break after conceding a goal right before halftime, but a second half barrage on the Huston-Tillotson goal could not provide the equalizer as the Wildcats dropped its Red River Athletic Conference opener 2-1 to the Rams Thursday afternoon at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex.
 
The Wildcats found themselves trailing after just 14 minutes as Huston-Tillotson turned early pressure into a score.
 
HTU continued to hold the run of play for the next quarter-hour, limiting LC's chances at equalizing. However, in the 29^th minute, Alvaro Tudanca lifted a shot high that seemed to finally get some momentum going in the Wildcats favor. That newfound momentum paid off in the 37^th minute as Arturo Riestra Torrejon got a pass in to Nangee Philip, whose shot defeated the Ram goalkeeper to pull the Wildcats level at 1-1.
 
But being on equal terms did not last long as, nine minutes later, a Ram busted through the LC defense and scored to put HTU back on top in the 44^th minute.
 
Following the late disappointment, the Wildcats came out in the second half in control of the game, putting up more shots within the period's first 15 minutes than all 45 minutes of the first half. However, the goal to bring LC back on level terms remained just out of reach.
 
The frustration of the missed opportunities made the last ten minutes even more difficult as a Wildcat picked up back-to-back yellow cards and was sent off, leaving the team with just ten men for those final ten minutes. LC continued to be on the offensive, even a man down, but the goal was not to come as the time expired without the equalizing goal.
 
Nangee Philip came off the bench to score his third goal of the season, putting both shots he took during the contest on frame. Arturo Riestra Torrejon took two shots and was credited with his second assist of the season. Adrian Amoros Navarro took two shots with one on target. The Wildcats ended up out-shooting the Rams, taking nine shots in the match and putting four on goal.
 
Luke Craigie (1-1) played all 90 minutes in net for LC in the contest. He faced seven shots from the Rams, only two of which were on frame by HTU.
 
The Wildcats (5-2, 0-1 RRAC) look to rebound on Saturday against a team receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25, Houston-Victoria. Kickoff against the (RV) Jaguars (4-1-1, 1-0 RRAC) is set for 3:30 P.M., or about 20 minutes following the end of the women's match, at The Cage on the UHV campus.