The men’s soccer team suffered their third straight home loss on Oct. 26, losing 2-1 against the Lassen College Cougars.

Freshman forward Darrien Parker kicked in the lone goal for Cosumnes River College but the Cougars responded with two goals from freshman forward Paul Van Mierle and freshman midfielder Nadav Eimelech to take the lead and win the game.

“Played well enough to win it and didn’t finish our chances and then gave away two goals,” said CRC head coach Ron Preble. “We lose concentration at bad moments, bad times.”

The Hawks started off the game by pressuring the Cougars’ defense and attempting a few shots near the box. However, Lassen College was quick in defending, using multiple headers to redirect the ball to the opposite side of the field.

“I thought in the first half we were more dangerous,” Preble said. “We had four or five chances, probably could have come away with two to three goals.”

Both teams continued to play with intensity as several penalties, fouls and collisions took place.

With 19 minutes remaining in the first half, sophomore forward Aaron McCollum received a yellow card for delayed restart, while a collision in the middle of the field a few minutes later resulted in an injury for Cougars’ freshman midfielder Callum Potoon.

The first half ended in a scoreless tie, as timely defense prevented either team from scoring. Both teams limited opportunities by moving the ball out of the box whenever it was close.

With 32 minutes remaining in the second half, Parker took control of the ball, raced down the field and forced a one-on-one match-up. He kicked the ball into the right side of the net, past Cougars’ freshman goalkeeper Pedro Arias, who broke left on the play.

The Cougars would continue to pressure the Hawks’ defenders.

After several failed shot attempts, Mierle finally moved the ball past Hawks’ freshman goalkeeper Leonel Luna to give Lassen College their first goal.

“I thought we had some great, unbelievable chances and didn’t finish them,” Preble said. “And then we let a guy cruise into the back post unmarked and puts one in.”

The Cougars continued to attempt a frenzy of scoring plays.

At the 10 minute mark, the Cougars scored the decisive goal, when Luna fell after attempting to gain possession of the ball. Lassen College took advantage of the opportunity, as Eimelech kicked the ball into the left side of the net to give his team a 2-1 lead.

“I thought we won this game because we made adjustments,” said Cougars’ head coach Ben Wade. “Their formation gave us fits until we adjusted in the second half.”

The Hawks are currently in a three-way tie for second place in the Big 8. With four games, all conference matchups, left in the season, the men’s soccer team will need to rebound quickly from the loss in order to salvage any hope in making the playoffs.

“I’m thinking we have to get four wins,” McCollum said. “We got to get results.”

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