BETHESDA, Md. – Just 12 hours after its scheduled season opener was cancelled due to lightning, the Ursinus College men's soccer team was back on the pitch to officially kick off the 2018 campaign against Randolph-Macon on Saturday afternoon. A late goal gave the Bears a chance at a result, but they were unable to find an equalizer and succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.
Freshman Aiden Cooper found the back of the net in his collegiate debut, pouncing on a loose ball following a cross and firing home to cut the Yellow Jackets' lead in half with 10:17 remaining. Ursinus got two more shots off in the waning minutes but could not net a second.
A pair of successful set pieces was the difference in a tightly contested match. Randolph-Macon (2-0) got on the board first with a header off a free kick in the 12th minute and added an insurance tally early in the second half as Paul Duffy headed in a corner kick.
Cooper accounted for half of the eight shots for the Bears, while sophomore Braden Burns put two of his three efforts on frame. The Yellow Jackets owned slim advantages in shots (10-8) and corners (2-1).
Senior goalkeeper Brandon Lillian posted five saves for Ursinus.
The Bears return home to face Arcadia on Wednesday, September 5. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. for the first Ursinus home event of the fall.