SALEM, ORE. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer team began competition in Oregon on Friday as they took on the Emory Eagles. The Lutes came up short on the road, falling 2-1 to the Eagles.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
In the first half, the Lutes came out strong, firing two shots in the first three minutes and earning a corner kick. Junior Trevor Thompson and senior Robby Guyer took the first shots of the game for the Lutes. The usual subject, senior Craig Johnson also fired a shot that was blocked. The next two shots of the game came in the 21^st minute from senior Dane Helle missing high and freshman Alex Coope who's shot was on target but was saved by the Eagle goalkeeper. But it was Thompson who blasted two shots back-to-back in the 36^th minute with the latter finding the crease in the lower right corner giving the Lutes a 1-0 lead.
 
The Lutes were able to defend a strong offensive attack by the Eagles at the end of the half to maintain the lead at the 45 minute mark. The Lute offense dominated the majority of the first half, outshooting Emory ten to four with five of the shots being on goal. Senior goalkeeper Nicholas Gaston made two saves in the first half compared to the Eagles four. Coope, the freshman, picked up a yellow card on a foul in the 29^th minute.
 
The second half was one to forget for the Lutes, as the Eagles halftime adjustments proved to be the key to their comeback. Senior Cole Dobson picked up a yellow card just minutes into the second half. The Eagles were able to level the game in the 60^th minute with a goal in the upper right corner from 25 yards out. 14 minutes later, Ryan Hayes of Emory picked up his second goal of the game to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. The Lute offense was held scoreless in the second half although Guyer fired a shot in the 88^th minute that missed left.
 
The Eagles offense woke up in the final 45 minutes as they shot the ball ten times compared to the Lutes seven. The Lute goalkeeper, Gaston, remained active in the second half as he made three saves on five shots on net.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
 
Freshman Alex Coope made his presence felt with five shots, two of which on goal. Thompson, the lone scorer for the Lutes fired three total shots, two on goal. Eight total Lutes took shots in the game, for a total of 17 as a team.
 
Gaston allowed two goals with five saves on 14 shots faced.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
 
The Lutes Men's Soccer team will rest on Saturday before facing the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Salem. Ore.
 
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