Dixie State University soccer kept it close but lost in the California road trip.
Both men’s and women’s soccer couldn’t find a way to finish their games. The women’s team lost its momentum from its strong home wins last week. DSU lost both games without scoring a goal.
The men’s team took both games into overtime, but each ended with DSU heartbreak.
Women’s soccer
The team could not find its recent form Saturday and fell 2-0 to Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.
“Hard work, good defense, and a dynamic attack has helped us with our success this season,” head coach Kasey Bingham said. “If we don’t play to our full potential in every game, we won’t be successful. We have to be mentally prepared for every game.”
DSU played well in the first half after taking an advantage in shots 5-4. The goals both came for PLNU in the second half after gaining the offensive advantage.
Thursday the Storm fell after giving up an early goal within ten minutes of the game. DSU kept it close and had opportunities to tie it up but gave up the final goal in the 83rd minute.
The road losses even DSU’s overall record at 7-7-1 and a conference record of 5-4.
The Storm finish up their season with three straight home games starting Oct. 30 against Dominican University of California at 7 p.m.
Men’s soccer
DSU lost its fifth straight in double overtime Saturday to Point Loma Nazarene University. It was a 1-0 defeat that came in the 108th minute of play.
Both team’s stat lines almost looked identical, being even in shots (14-14) and shots on goal (6-6), but the one that found the net against DSU was the difference.
Freshman goalkeeper Eddie Ortiz had five saves for DSU.
It was the second straight overtime loss for DSU after losing Thursday on a penalty kick given up from a handball foul.
DSU gave up a goal to Azusa Pacific midway through the first half of the game. Junior defender Jorge Echavarria headed home the tying goal and his third of the season.
The handball foul came within minutes of starting overtime and the PLNU Cougars took advantage scoring the game-ending penalty kick.
DSU returns home for its final three games of the season looking to be on the other side of the close game.
“I am extremely proud of the effort the team displayed for the 90 minutes,” head coach Danny Ortiz said. “It was the second of two very phyical games we played in less than 48 hours.”
The Storm played Azusa Pacific University just two days prior.
The Storm now prepares to face Dominican University at home on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
