PORTSMOUTH – Today's loss was definitely the most bitter pill of the season to swallow for a team that has seen more than its share of unlucky breaks in the opening part of the year. Just when it looked like men's soccer was heading to overtime, Bluffton (1-2) scored with 10 seconds left to secure a 2-1 come-from-behind win.
The Bears simply controlled every offensive category. They outshot the Beavers, 28-14. They put 14 shots on goal, compared to Bluffton's seven and held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. After a Luke Purpero goal in the 62nd minute of play off a direct kick, the Bears even held the lead on the scoreboard up until about eight minutes to go. However, Bluffton would knot the game at one with a goal in the 83rd minute and take the lead for good off a cross with 10 seconds to play.
Right from the opening pass, Shawnee State took two corner attempts and had three shot attempts from Joseph Webster in the first 10 minutes, but could not break through with the early tally. At the end of the first 45 minutes of play, Shawnee State held an 11-6 advantage in shots, but just couldn't beat Bluffton goalie Jeff Yoder. For the Bears, junior Thomas Carbonari stopped all three shots that he would face in the first half.
In the second half, the shot total would become even more unbalanced in favor of the Bears. Three shots in the opening six minutes of the second half by Dylan Stevens would all be denied. The Bears would then put a pair of shots wide in the 54th and 55th minute. Stevens would have his second shot on goal of the half saved in the 58th minute, while Chad Johnston's shot would also be stopped just a minute and a half later.
After coming frustratingly close on several shot attempts throughout the first 61-plus minutes, Shawnee State would earn a set piece try just outside the box and Purpero would finally light the scoreboard off the direct kick to give his team the lead. Not letting up, the Bears would take another five shots in the next 20 minutes, but were unable to pad the lead.
That would come back to haunt them in them as Bluffton's Dylan Mathews would score on a cross from Peter Carlson in the 83rd minute to tie the game. The Bears seemed to be bouncing back nicely in the following minutes as Stevens took two more shots that both traveled wide, while Nick Dowdell and Ryan Beatty each had shots on goal that were saved.
Another prime example of the tough-luck season that has haunted the Bears early on occurred with just 46 seconds remaining as Carbonari was injured trying make a save on a crossing pass and have to come out of the game. Then came the dagger. Carlson, who assisted on the first Bluffton goal, scored with just 10 ticks remaining off a pass from John Harbeck. The Bears ran everybody up for the final seconds, but just did not have enough time get a good attempt.
Stevens finished with a match-high eight shots, while Webster took six shots in the game. In total, 12 different players recorded a shot in the contest, while the Beavers took just 14 shots total. Up until the time of his injury, Carbonari stopped five of the six shots he faced.
There will be little time to rest on what could have been for the Bears as they will take the pitch tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Otterbein.
