Lack of Goal Scoring Leads to 2-0 Argo Soccer Loss to NCU
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – After scoring 15 goals in two games to open Cascade Collegiate Conference play, Argo soccer’s offense simply could find its finishing touch against Northwest Christian, losing 2-0 despite outshooting the Beacons. The game was the first of the season in which UP failed to score a goal.
From the opening kick, something seemed just a little bit off for the Argos. The team often struggled to complete passes in the first half. It wasn’t so much inaccuracy that was the problem, but rather a swarm Beacon side that always seemed to be waiting no matter where on the field UP tried to attack.
NCU got off 5 shots and earned 3 corner kicks in the first 27 minutes and that fifth shot was a good one. The Beacons worked the ball quickly down the left wing and a well-timed cross found Tito Gomez who settled the ball and had no one by UP’s keeper Marc Girones between him and net. With time and space to pick his spot, there really was nothing Girones could do and NCU went up 1-0.
Quality looks were hard to come back for UP in the first half. Senior forward Christoffer Bisbo, who scored 5 goals in his last game, had one open shot from about 19 yards out and made good contact but the ball went just right of the near post.
The Argos started the second half with a strong first seven or so minute that saw UP control possession. Things went back and forth a bit more from there, but the Argos had the better of play for most of the period.
UP outshot NCU 9-4 in the second half and forced the Beacon’s goalkeeper to make 4 saves.
The most dangerous span came during the 69th and 70th minutes when a shot from junior Adrian Gomez deflected off an NCU defender and led to a corner kick in the right corner. Gomez took the corner and the ball was again played out of bounds by a Beacon.
The next corner kick led to the same result, giving Gomez a third crack at it. This time, the ball made its way to senior Christopher Chavez who took a shot that was deflected by a defender and went to freshman Braden Bloom who again got a look at the net but his shot was saved.
In the final 15 minutes, the intensity of play reached a new level, and fouls, along with cards became more prevalent. Starting in the 74th minute, three yellow cards were given and one red card was handed out. UP got three of those four cards including the red.
None of those fouls were the ones that led to the insurance goal for NCU. That came in the 90th minute on a slide tackle from Argo defender Ole Cloppenburg that got all legs and not much ball. The foul was inside the UP penalty box and the Beacons scored on the resulting penalty kick.
In the end, the Argos outshot the Beacons 15-11 and had one more shot on goal than NCU, but those numbers weren’t enough for the win.
The loss brings the Argo’s record to 3-2 (2-1) on the year. The team will need to rebound quickly as they get just 24 hours before squaring off against #5 Corban University at home on Saturday, September 23 at 3:30 p.m.