STEUBENVILLE, Ohio-Despite a dominating performance and an early lead on Senior Day, Baron soccer was unable to hold off Hilbert College losing a close 3-1 battle. The Barons lone goal came from sophomore forward John Imbimbo with a double assist from senior defender Peter Mooney and sophomore midfielder Edwin de St. Aubin.

"We played to possess the ball, we really like to work it around and break them down in the middle," Head Coach Ward Rogers said. "We were getting chances but the final ball eluded us."

The Barons struck hard in the beginning of the game, firing shot after shot at the Hilbert goalkeeper. They possessed the ball, working it up the field, and looking for an opportunity to strike. Nineteen minutes in they did.

After a fast break down the wing, Mooney found the ball in the center of the field and passed it up to Aubin, drawing the Hawk's goalkeeper away from the net. Aubin crossed the ball deflecting it off the keeper's chest, where Imbimbo found it and sent it straight into the back of the net for a Baron goal.

Hilbert answered late in the half with a fast break down the wing, sending the ball into the far right corner of the net. The Barons were not able to match the offensive speed of Hilbert and the Hawks took the lead with a similar counter attack in the forty-first minute.

In the second half the Barons had a series of good looks. The best look came from a well-placed shot by junior Jesse Saltarelli. After a quick break up the field Saltarelli fired a low shot across the face of the goal passed the keeper toward the far right corner. A Hilbert back made a sliding save right before the ball crossed the goalline, robbing the Barons of a tying goal.

"You always play well when you develop that many chances but when you get to these games it's about the result," Rogers said. "We're still staying within our style of play and the guys are doing a great job of being disciplined and moving the ball, we just need to finish."

Despite outshooting Hilbert (24-19) the Barons were unable to convert. The Hawks scored their third goal late in the second half, dashing any hope Franciscan might have had at a comeback.

"Defensively we played really well, we just got caught a couple of times, Rogers said. "They weren't particularly great balls; they were just able to get around us with their speed."

After the game, Franciscan honored their five seniors, Luke Merry, Blake Bonilla, John Herrmann, Peter Mooney, and Brian Murray, who have helped shepherd the program out of provisional NCAA status and into full NCAA membership.

"Earlier in the season we talked about the difference between this year and last year. One of the differences is the talent on the practice field," Rogers said reflecting on the impact these seniors have had on the team. "What these guys have done for four and in some cases five years is they've come to practice every day and played as hard as they can. Sometimes they're not playing as much as they played earlier in their career, but they never quit. There's a lot that goes into building this program and these players are the foundation of that program."

The Barons are on the road again facing La Roche College October 15, starting at 2pm.