Second half rally not enough as Tigers drop season opener

MITCHELL, S.D. – A pair of goals in the second half was not enough to overcome its deficit as the Dakota Wesleyan University men's soccer team lost to Briar Cliff University, 3-2 in a non-conference tilt on Sunday at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex.

 It was the Tigers (0-1) who put the pressure on early as Isaias Pio (Santa Cruz, Calif.) took a corner kick, followed by a Joel Sanchez (Salinas, Calif.) shot that went wide in the opening two minutes.

 Matthew Campbell (Duluth, Minn.) held tough in the net for DWU over the following minutes as he fended off six BCU shots.

 However, the Chargers (1-0) found the back of the net in the 24^th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Just moments prior to halftime, BCU notched another goal to double its lead heading into the locker rooms.

 It did not take the Tigers long to score their first goal of the season in the second half as Ndrin Maloku (Prishtine, Albania) drilled the ball into the net to pull DWU within a goal.

 The momentum began to shift towards the Tigers as they reeled off a handful of shots in the following minutes. BCU regained the momentum with a goal in the 70^th minute to push its lead back to two goals.

 The Tigers gave it one final effort as Omar Menchaca-Torres (Lindsay, Calif.) tallied a goal thanks to an assist from Maloku. However, it was too late as the time ran out on the comeback for DWU in the opening game of the season.

 Maloku led the Tigers as he posted a goal, an assist and three shots. Lucas Bule (Buenos Aires, Argentina) also recorded three shots and a shot on goal, while Campbell snagged seven saves on 10 shots on goal.

 DWU hits the road to battle Viterbo University for a non-conference matchup at 3 p.m. Thursday in La Crosse, Wis.