The Otterbein men’s soccer team fell short in their first two home games of the season this past weekend. The first loss came from fourth-ranked Kenyon College on Friday, 3-0. Then, on Sunday, to Wittenberg University, 2-0.
With these two losses, Otterbein falls to 1-3 early on the season.
On Friday, the Cardinals and the Lords of Kenyon College were in a deadlock tie at 0-0 for the first 30 minutes of the game. However, Kenyon sophomore forward Tony Amolo scored back-to-back goals within one minute of each other to give the Lords a 2-0 lead. Amolo has scored five goals so far on the year.
Kenyon scored their third, and final, goal of the game with a little over 14 minutes left in the half off the foot of senior forward Edgar Arceo from 30 yards out.
Kenyon had 22 total shots taken with seven on goal to Otterbein's 11 total shots with five on goal.
“Well, on Friday, we played the number four team in the nation,” junior forward Luis Rivas said. “That is always tough and I thought we played well.”
On Sunday, the Cardinals kept it close for a majority of the game against Wittenberg, but they had trouble finding ways to score.
With 36:30 left in the first half, Wittenberg scored their first goal of the game on a header from junior defender Zack Moore with the assist from sophomore forward Josh Marks.
Otterbein kept it a 1-0 game until the end of the second half when Wittenberg freshman forward Josh McErlean scored on a corner kick to put the game out of reach for the Cardinals.
Despite the loss, Otterbein outshot Wittenberg, 19-5. Yet, Wittenberg led in shots on goal, 9-0.
“We just couldn’t bounce back,” Rivas said about the loss to Wittenberg. “Overall, I think the team is working together, we just need to fine-tune before conference play. I think we’ll be ready by then.”
The men's soccer team next plays on Wednesday at Ohio Wesleyan University at 5:30 p.m.
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