CHICAGO, Ill. - Men's soccer fell to the Saint Xavier Cougars in their second of three road games back to back before heading back home to finish up non-conference play. Though the Maple Leafs outshot their opponents 14-9, the Cougars managed to find the conversions when it counted, taking the game 2-0 in the end.
This was also the Leafs first outing of the season on a turf field rather than a grass one, so adjustments were definitely made from beginning to end as players grew more used to the faster playing surface.
The first goal came in the 39th minute, just before the halftime break off the foot of Saul Lagunas, who was assisted by Cristian Morales. There was a breakdown in the shape of the GC defense, but it was an unlucky bounce from the ball that put Lagunas through on goal.
Then, in the 81st minute, Lagunas was back on the stat sheet as he picked up the assist to the goal from Balys Zamalaitis. Lagunas was the corner taker for the Cougars and placed a textbook ball just in front of Matias Labbe, and Zamalaitis timed his run perfectly, just cutting off the save.
Fouls throughout the game were fairly even with 15 for GC and 13 for SXU— the same was true for yellow cards, with three for the Leafs and two for the Cougars.
For the Leafs, Diogo Coelho and Roberto Sanchez Brito led on the attacking side of things, both with three shots and one on frame. They were followed closely by David Hidalgo Muniáin, who had two shots with one on goal. Pedro Diegues and Nicholas Whitaker also picked up two shots apiece.
Labbe made his first appearance for the Leafs, picking up three saves in his initial showing in goal.
The Maple Leafs are back in action to finish their road stretch of games in Grand Rapids, MI where they will take on the Saints of Aquinas College. That match is scheduled for Wednesday, Sep. 9 at 6 p.m.
