ARLINGTON, Va. – The Marymount (Va.) University men's soccer team kicked off the 2015 schedule at Long Bridge Park on Tuesday afternoon against Hampden-Sydney College, but fell behind in the second half to drop a tough 2-1 decision. 

The match played in favor of the Saints (0-1) throughout most of the first 45 minutes, seeing a great early opportunity in the sixth minute. A free kick from the right side of the 18-yard box gave senior Carlos Sanchez a chance to loft a ball into the mix where it found the head of freshman Rodney Ngoh. A lined ball looked to be enough to get to the back of the net, but a diving save by Tigers' goalkeeper Cameron McFarlane kept the game scoreless. 

Several other chances came close in the first half, while the backline held strong by only giving up just one shot. With 21 minutes left before halftime, Hampden-Sydney (1-0) had its first real opportunity to give senior goalkeeper Logan Cropper some action. With empty field in front of Tigers' Ryan Turner, a strong close out and tackle by Ngoh ended the attack. 

It only took a little more than two minutes into the second half for the tie to be broken, as a long ball past the defense met the foot of Tigers' Hunter Weiland who found the back of the net past an outstretched Cropper. 

The score extended to a two-goal game five minutes later after a foul inside the 18 drew the play dead and awarded Hampden-Sydney a penalty-kick opportunity. 

Still striving to get back in the game, the Saints made a last ditch effort in the final 10 minutes of regulation with a finish by sophomore Nick Hars. With the ball on the right side, a hard sent pass would get redirected by a Tigers' defenseman and find the left side of the net to draw within one. 

Battling for one last goal to send the game to extra time would fall short for the men, as the Hampden-Sydney defense tightened up in the closing minutes. 

Marymount outshot the Tigers for the game, 8-6, led by freshman Marc Mendoza with three. 

Cropper made one save in his 90 minutes of play. 

The Saints will head on the road for their next competition, as they travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia for the UMW Soccer Classic on Saturday, September 5. The men will take on Hood College at 3:30 p.m., before matching up with Eastern Mennonite University on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.