The Shippensburg University men’s soccer team was unable to stop its losing streak last week, dropping games to both Seton Hill University and Mercyhurst University.

Seton Hill pressured SU from the starting whistle. The Raider defense did a great job throughout the first half of containing the Griffin attack, but Seton Hill was able to break through in the 42nd minute when Rory McKinnon shot the ball into the top corner.

Neither team was able to create another shot like McKinnon’s for the rest of the game, even though SU was able to generate more pressure in the second half.

The Griffins outshot the Raiders 23–6 in the game and Raider keeper Garret Watson made a career-high nine saves.

The team knew it would be a very tough challenge when they faced Mercyhurst on Saturday. Mercyhurst is in first-place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), but it was SU that was able to create the most pressure early in the game.

Sophomore Patrick Luebben headed a cross from Joey Gallucci to give the Raiders the early 1–0 lead. That advantage did not last long, however, as Mercyhurst scored just three minutes later by way of Thom Derks’ first goal of his four-goal day.

Right near the end of the first half, SU keeper Garret Watson was injured while saving a shot. The injury forced Watson to leave the game, pushing sophomore Matt Harder into the net.

“The defense creates a bond of trust with the starting goalkeeper, so it can sometimes be a struggle to acclimate to a new keeper in the middle of the game. All things considered, Harder did a good job in goal, making six saves,” SU coach Jeremy Spering said.

Mercyhurst was able to create pressure early in the second half, with Derks scoring three more goals in the span of 15 minutes. After the fourth goal, there was only 15 minutes left and the Raiders trailed 4–1.

Coach Spering’s team did not give up, however. Spering moved defender Jan Striewe into an attacking role and he was able to fight back.

As soon as Striewe came up front, the SU offense was given a big spark. Ten minutes from the end of the game, Striewe jumped on a throw-in from Colten Arnold, scoring a goal for the Raiders to cut the lead to two. Only 28 seconds later, Striewe picked up a loose ball 30 yards away from the goal. He made a beautiful dipping shot that looped over the Mercyhurst goalkeeper to give Mercyhurst just a one-goal advantage.

The Raiders were able to pressure Mercyhurst for the last nine minutes, but they could not find an equalizing goal. SU was forced to accept a loss that had seemed inevitable at one point in the game, but was just barely beyond reach at the end.

The Raiders (5–7, 2–6 PSAC), travel to Millersville University on Tuesday in another conference matchup.

Share