ELSAH, ILL. -- The Principia men's soccer teams' confidence was dented when they were mauled 4-1 by the 15th ranked Washington University Bears. Wash U, ranked 2nd in the region, avenged last year's defeat to the Panthers in style. The Panthers were generous throughout most stretches of the game conceding the first goal in the 10th minute of play after a poor back post marking by the Panther defense. In the 32nd minute another defensive breakdown led to a great interchange play amongst the Bears' attackers resulting in a quick 1-2 play that the Bear forward did well to tuck into the far left side of the net.
After intermission the Panthers opted to claw their way back in the match and displayed a will to get back into the match picking off several balls deep in the midfield and launching several raids at the bears.
Paul Sanderude's effort off
Alan Cheatham's pickoff from midfield glanced off the side of a Bears defender and wrong footed the Bear keeper to make the score 2-1. The Panthers continued playing good soccer up until an unfortunate bounce off a tame effort by the Bears attacker hopped over an advancing
Samuel Thomas to give the Bears the game winner in the 68th minute of play.
For all intents and purposes the match was over as the Panthers fell flat and their failure to pressure another Bears attacker resulted in an open opportunity on top of the box which the player made no mistake roofing to the upper ninety past Thomas. The Panthers fall back to .500 at 6-6-3 with a key conference matchup looming on Saturday afternoon against Eureka College at 3:00 PM.
