JACKSON, Tenn.- Despite out-shooting Tuskegee 24-9 and controlling 60% of possession, Union (TN) dropped its season opener 2-1 to the Golden Tigers Friday afternoon at Smith Memorial Soccer Complex, falling to 0-2-0 on the young campaign.
The Bulldogs got off to a rough start defensively, allowing Chikwere Ikpo to open the scoring just seven minutes in off an assist from Toree Davis II. Tuskegee doubled its lead in the 51st minute when John Croxson buried a feed from Ikpo, and a red card on Tuskegee's Jacob Arthur in the 54th minute gave Union a man advantage that the Bulldogs simply couldn't convert into goals for the rest of the match.
And it wasn't for lack of trying. Union peppered Tuskegee's goal relentlessly in the second half, firing 17 shots after the break alone and finishing with a staggering 24 total shots to Tuskegee's 9. Thomas Relf led the offensive push with 5 shots and 4 on frame, while Lewis Harding, George McDonnell, and Ashanie Kennedy all pitched in multiple attempts. But Tuskegee goalkeeper Samuel Glasgow was the story between the pipes, turning away 10 saves — 11 total on the team — to frustrate wave after wave of Bulldogs pressure.
Union finally broke through in the 89th minute when Lewis Harding buried his first goal of the season off a George McDonnell assist, cutting the deficit to 2-1. But the response came too late, and Tuskegee's Glasgow closed out the match with two more saves in the final minutes to preserve the win.
Union outshot Tuskegee by 15 and out-possessed the Golden Tigers by 20 percentage points, but couldn't overcome an early two-goal hole and a night where the final ball — or a friendly bounce — never seemed to arrive. Patrick Schott took the loss in net despite facing far less work, finishing with 3 saves on 5 shots on target.
The Bulldogs will look to bounce back next week against Kentucky Wesleyan. Fans can enjoy free admission complementary of FirstBank.
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