ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The men's soccer team (0-1-0, 5-5-0) couldn't overcome Charlotte's (1-0-0, 6-4-0) defensive backline in today's Atlantic 10 Conference opener, falling 2-0 to the No. 26 49ers.
The Bonnies bent a lot in the first half and nearly got away unscathed, but on the 49ers ninth, and final, shot of the half, Tyler Gibson headed home a cross from Paul Willoughby for his third goal of the season with just three seconds remaining until intermission.
With the Bonnies looking for the equalizer and committing more men than usual forward in the second half, Charlotte capitalized on a three-on-one counter when Evan James crossed the ball to a wide open Donnie Smith, who beat keeper David Flynn for his second tally of the season.
"They're a talented and disciplined team," head coach Mel Mahler said of the 49ers. "They made us fight for every possession, and their style of play was disruptive as we couldn't get our rhythm in the match."
Flynn was tested early and often on a sun-filled, but windy, afternoon. The senior dismissed many quality scoring chances from the 49ers, making 12 saves on the day, compared with Charlotte's Gavin Dawson's none.
Despite the outcome, Mahler thought this was a good first conference test for his team, comprised of 14 freshmen. "I think it's a match we can build and learn from," Mahler said. "I think we now understand how to play with composure under such pressure."
The pressure will increase even more on Sunday when the Bonnies host Saint Louis, which was predicted to win the A-10 this season. The Billikens play at Duquesne tonight, and head to McGraw-Jennings Field for scheduled 2 p.m. kickoff.
Notes: Charlotte outshot St. Bonaventure, 21-8, including 9-0 in the first half … the Bonnies won the toss and elected to have the winds, gusting from the west at 25 mph, at their backs for the second half … Dr. Adam Ritchie, a University of Oxford biologist, sat with the team on the bench for the game and was given an honorary jersey. Ritchie, a tutor for the University's study abroad program at Oxford, was visiting campus to discuss his recent findings in HIV vaccine research.
