SANTA CRUZ, Calif. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer team (0-1) opened the season on the road against the University of California, Santa Cruz Banana Slugs (1-1)  as they fell 2-1. Senior Trevor Thompson cut the deficit late but the Lutes lone score wasn't enough to match the Slugs.
 
The two squads began the 2024 campaign trading a pair of shots as forward Trevor Thompson's shot was saved in the 14^th minute. The Banana Slugs answered right back with a deep attempt that found the back of the Lutes goal. Slugs led the Lutes 1-0 through 14 minutes of play.
 
As the Lutes continued to apply pressure and earn corner kick after corner kick, they couldn't get a shot off. Following a yellow card on UCSC, Thompson fired the Lutes second and third attempts of the game, only to be saved once again. The Slugs took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
 
Both offenses came out of the locker room firing, with Thompson's three shots unsuccessful, Yuta Shimazu and Alvin Kamau took one shot of their own but were both saved by the Slugs keeper.
 
In the 69^th minute, the Slugs extended their lead on a shot that beat Lutes goalkeeper Nicholas Gaston. Nine minutes later, Thompson fields a rebound off of his own shot that was saved to score and cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
Seamus Miller and Craig Johnson's last-ditch efforts in the closing minutes were on-target but could not beat the keeper. Cole Dobson picked up a yellow card late in the 85^th minute.

"It was a disappointing way to start the season, but we showed some good quality at times. We gave ourselves plenty to work on as we get ready for Sunday's game." said Head Coach John Yorke.
 
The Lutes out shot the Slugs 15-12 with 12 shots on-target to the Slugs six. Gaston made four saves on the 12 shots faced, meanwhile the Slugs keeper made 11 saves on 15 shots. Thompson took a whopping nine shots in the game, seven of which were on-goal.
 
The Lutes will take Saturday off before they look to rebound in a matchup against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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