Box Score STEUBENVILLE, Ohio—Franciscan men's soccer showed bursts of offensive aptitude in their high-scoring game against Hiram College but were unable to match the performance on the back end of the field, losing 8-4.
Though the Terriers were up 2-0 in the first 17 minutes, FUS continued to work the ball, looking for their first goal. The opportunity came in a series of passes between junior midfielder John Imbimbo and sophomore forward Joseph Duran that culminated in a confident finish from Duran, narrowing the gap 2-1.
The momentum was short-lived, however, as Hiram scored again less than a minute later.
"This is a little bit like playing a game at Chuck E. Cheese's, when we fix a problem, another problem pops up," head coach Ward Rogers said, explaining that while the Barons' ball movement was much improved, the team suffered defensively.
Down 3-1 at the half, the Barons continued to look for scoring opportunities but Imbimbo's goal off a penalty kick in the fifty-third minute was not enough to combat Hiram's next three goals.
Rogers said the defensive struggles were a result of mental errors.
"We just made too many misjudgments in trying to really be aggressive and not let their offense turn," Rogers said. "If you don't clear the ball against a really good soccer team, the defenders are really hung out to dry."
Despite the deficit, the Baron offense refused to admit defeat, creating two more opportunities in the final 20 minutes both from freshman forward Leo Herrmann who scored goals three and four for Franciscan with assists from Imbimbo and Duran.
"The midfielders found Leo in pretty good positions to get some good shots on goal," Rogers said.
Herrmann and Imbimbo both led the team in shots on goal with three and four respectively, and Imbimbo finished with two assists. The team's nine total shots on goal pleased Rogers, who said the team has been working to increase scoring opportunities.
"We tried something new in the midfield, got more possession there, and scored 4 goals against a really good soccer team," Rogers said.
Rogers added that with six games in the first 11 days of the season and several players injured, the team has not lived up to its full potential. With a week to rest and practice before their next game, he hopes to welcome a few absent players back to the field and refocus on training.
"The mistakes are fixable. It isn't like we have these great deficiencies and no hope," Rogers said. "There are just mental breakdowns and you can fix those things."
The Barons will next host Bethany College on Wednesday, September 17 at 4pm.
