STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – Baron men's soccer fought hard against Washington & Jefferson College only to fall 3-0. Starting his first game of the season, sophomore goalkeeper Christopher McNamara kept the hope alive until late in the second half.

The Presidents scored their first goal thirty four seconds into the first half, sending a long ball past the Baron's defense, which was unable to recover in time to stop the goal.

The Barons responded right away with their own scoring opportunity when junior Mark Allen received a cross from the left side, contacted the ball in the air, and sent it sailing just high of the cross bar. FUS continued to create looks at the net but always came up just short.

"We played very well in stretches," Head Coach Ward Rogers said. "We had a lot of really good chances in the first half where we were bringing the ball up and developing the space."

McNamara had a great game making some crucial saves and keeping the Barons within striking distance in the first half. The Presidents continued to look for another fast break goal, and threatened to score on a pass down the right wing that was centered into a dangerous spot. The play left McNamara one on one with a W&J forward and the FUS keeper was up to the task, making a sliding save and deflecting the shot wide.

"Chris had a very good game," Rogers said of McNamara's who finished with 11 saves. "He was very strong, very vocal, and he helped the defense a lot."

The Barons struggled to maintain possession in the second half, while W&J managed to score their second goal off a cross from the right wing in the seventy-seventh minute. FUS was unable to respond when thirty seconds later the Presidents sent another ball into the back of the net, sliding just past McNamara and ending any chances of a Baron comeback.

"We still seem to fall back into that trap where we lose our concentration for three or four minutes in a critical moment," Rogers said. "Our Captain Peter Mooney calls that mental agility, we need to focus on that."

Next, the Barons will start conference play on the road against AMCC power, Penn St. - Behrend on Sept. 26, at 1 pm . Looking forward, Rogers said the Baron's need to work on protecting the center of the field.

"Penn State is a very strong team and they try to play with the same style as we do," Roger's said. "We want to get numbers in the middle of the field and that will force them into the middle."