Sun., Sept. 6, 2009

  FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Perhaps there was a silver lining in the dark cloud of defeat that enveloped the University of Saint Francis soccer team on Sunday, a 2-1 setback at the feet of the Shawnee State University Bears.

  Though a bitter defeat, there are 13 more games on the schedule to erase the memory of the Cougars first defeat of the season. Time to learn from the mistakes made Sunday and put together a longer winning streak than the 3-game streak that was snapped by SSU. USF coach Mitch Ellisen hopes his team learned a from the reminder to respect every opponent no matter what their record is or what they did in their last test on the pitch. To always bring that 'A' game.

  In SSU's case, the Bears dropped a season-opening 5-0 verdict to Huntington University on Saturday. In the process, the Bears set the perfect trap for USF.

   USF coach Mitch Ellisen implored his Cougars at halftime to play with more heart, more intensity and passion the way SSU did in the first half. Sam Meyer headed in a pass Randy Smith at 41:49 to pull the Cougars into a tie, but that was all the scoring USF managed after scoring eight goals in the last two games. USF was fortunate to be tied at halftime dodging a direct kick just about 8 yards directly in front of the USF net. SSU shot wide with just 9.3 seconds to play in the half.

  The Cougars put five shots on goal in the second half and for the game outshot SSU 16-8, but SSU's Luke Purpero scored on a rush at 69:00 and that took care of the scoring.

  Nick Morken had two saves for USF while SSU keeper Kevin Fischer had 7 saves for the Bears, who left D'Arcy Stadium with a 1-1 record and avenged a 1-0 loss to USF in 2008 on the way to a 2-16 season.

  Zach Baron led USF's attack putting 4 shots-on-goal. Meyer had two.