| Rob McEvoy heads the ball away from his defender. CEU had a strong outing against the Weber State program. |
The Eagles soccer team had one mental lapse that may have cost them a nearly perfect defensive game.
In a frantic moment in front of the College of Eastern Utah goal, the ball was accidently put into the net by an Eagle player who was trying to clear things out.
Prior to the goal, neither team had scored.
Weber would add one more goal in the final moments of the game to take home a 2-0 victory.
CEU coach Ron Dadgari said he was very impressed with his team’s play despite the loss.
“We withstood their offensive attack really well,” he commented. “Every game has been an improvement in every area.”
Weber is hailed as the team to beat in CEU’s region, making Friday’s performance against the experienced club even more of an accomplishment for the first season Eagles.
The Eastern Utah team is also playing without its offensive dynamo, Toshi Shinozaki. Shinozaki was injured in a recent game and will probably not return for the Eagles before the final games of the season.
Dadgari said the loss of Shinozaki has forced the team to redesign its plan of attack and move players forward that would have focused more on distributing the ball than scoring.
However, Dadgari emphasised that opportunities are there if the team will take them.
“In the game of soccer, all you need is one opportunity,” pointed out Dadgari. “It’s very important to capitalize.”
CEU will host Southern Utah University on Friday at 5 p.m. and then play the Dixie State Rebels at home on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Dadgari expects the team to have a different showing against the teams, both of which defeated CEU earlier in the season.
“The way we have improved, I think we can be a lot more competitive,” he stated. “We should be able to beat them both.”
The College of Eastern Utah games take place on the soccer fields behind the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center.