Lakeland College

2-0 First Half Lead Escapes Muskies in Overtime vs. Northland

Athletics - posted on 9/9/2006

The Lakeland men's soccer team dropped their third game of the season to Northland Baptist Bible College 3-2 in their home opener on Saturday, September 9.

With 30 seconds left to play in the game Northland notched their second goal of the half to tie the game 2-2, forcing it into overtime. From then on it was downhill for the Muskies, as the Pioneers scored their third and final goal within the first few minutes of the extra period, leaving the squad still searching for their first win of the season.

"We failed to match Northland's intensity," said head coach Dave Madsen. "In the second half, there was a big momentum change in their favor. We took them for granted and ended up kind of shell-shocked going into overtime."

From the beginning the Muskies had looked set to dominate the game, going into halftime with a 2-0 lead over their opponent. Despite only getting off three shots on goal as a team in the first half, freshman Ryan Malo got the Muskies on the board three minutes into the game, and sophomore Kevin Fitchett stuck the second in the back of the net just before half.

"We scored early on to set the tone, but then we gave them way too much space to operate and didn't pressure the ball in the second half," said Madsen. "We gave them way too many opportunities to score."

Although the team was deflated by the loss, Madsen thinks it could help them further on down the road as the team enters conference play this weekend.

"It's frustrating because we had chances to outplay them, but we didn't take advantage of them," he said. "But it's a good learning lesson to show the guys what happens when you underestimate teams."

The Muskies will look to avenge the tough loss against UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wis., on Wednesday, September 13. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

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