Over the weekend, the Case Western Reserve University men’s soccer team suffered its first loss of the season, falling 2-1 to Otterbein University in the final non-conference match of the year. The setback dropped the Spartans to 6-1-3 overall.
Otterbein entered the contest as a proven challenge, having battled No. 1-ranked Denison University to a 3-3 draw earlier this season and tying Kenyon College, just as the Spartans had.
CWRU started strong, earning four corner kicks in the opening 20 minutes. In the 25th minute, third-year midfielder Ohta Kamiya broke through, volleying home his fifth goal of the season off a long throw-in that bounced near the top of the box. The Spartans limited the Cardinals to just two off-target shots in the first half and carried a 1-0 lead into the break.
Otterbein responded quickly after halftime, equalizing in the 58th minute with a header. The match stayed level deep into the second half, but the Cardinals continued to press, recording nine shots and four on goal. With just five minutes left, an Otterbein cross found an open attacker for a header, and CWRU was unable to come back in the remaining time, sealing the 2-1 result.
Although the team conceded a late goal, second-year midfielder Owen Guffey expressed pride in how they responded.
“That was the first time we had trailed in a game all year, yet the reaction from the team was positive,” Guffey said. “This team has a great mentality and leadership, so after that goal went in, I wasn’t worried about how we would respond; we just kept fighting for the equalizer until the last minute. Unfortunately, it didn’t come.”
Reflecting on the match, Guffey noted the importance of capitalizing on chances, emphasizing that goal-scoring opportunities will become scarcer in conference play.
“Our first half was very good; we had a lot of possession in their half,” Guffey said. “One area we have been focusing on is maximizing the opportunities we have with possession. In UAA games, we will have to be more clinical in front of the goal, as we will not have as many chances in those big games.”
Kamiya’s goal marked the seventh of his career, and entering the match, CWRU had conceded only one goal all season. Despite the loss, Guffey believes it will ultimately benefit the team and give them something to build on moving forward.
“I think this loss allowed us to slow down and identify what is working and what isn’t,” Guffey said. “UAA is going to be very hard. With this first loss, we needed a reset, and that reset will be beneficial for us. Additionally, I believe this loss motivated the team even more, which is great.”
The Spartans will now turn their focus to conference play, opening UAA competition on Oct. 4 against the University of Rochester. The doubleheader with the women’s team begins at 11 a.m. on DiSanto Field.