NEW CONCORD, Ohio—After winning a game merely 24 hours prior, the Lady Baron soccer team set out to play Muskingum University. Battling against fatigue, a different playing surface and the absence of both team captains on the field the Lady Barons lost the game 3-0.

In the first half Muskingum scored their three goals within a ten-minute span. The Muskies were able to take advantage of Franciscan's slow start and get a solid lead early on. It was Franciscan's first time playing on a turf field and head coach Clare McBane said it took her team a little while to adjust to the way the ball traveled.

"This game taught us a good hard lesson about the importance of coming out just as hard in the beginning as we plan to play in the end," McBance said.

The second half was a clean slate that Franciscan covered with a new defensive formation and more than double the number of shots taken in the first half. With both team captains, sophomore defender Hannah Castree and junior midfielder Julia Cocozza, on the sideline due to injuries the team had to adjust to changes in the middle and a different line up in the back.

"The girls were willing to change it up and weren't stubborn about it," McBane said. "They were all very mature about changing the formation and changing their position as needed to accommodate what we were up against."

The Lady Barons adjustment to their defensive formation allowed them to hold Muskingum from scoring any more goals the rest of the game. McBane was also impressed with the way her team continued to fight into the end of the game taking shots and setting up scoring opportunities.

"Having two games in a row and then at the end of the second game you're down 3-0 you normally wouldn't still be getting shot opportunities you would have your head down," McBane said. "But our girls fought and had their heads up and played hard. I'm really proud of them."

Both sophomore midfielder Lauren Noce and freshman defender Elizabeth Krilich stepped up for the Lady Barons taking new roles on the field. Noce filled into the center after junior Ashley Ruttencutter was moved back out to the wing and Krilich filled in for Castree in the back line. The Lady Barons plan to take this game as a lesson and move forward with their season.

"We're continuing to stick with the mentality that right now we're just training," McBane said. "We're training as hard as we can for conference play."

The Lady Barons have a day to catch their breath and then continue their season with a game against Chatham University Saturday Sept. 14 at 3:00p.m.