The team grabbed their second loss of the season as the Spartans lost to Prairie State College 1-2 on Tuesday at the Spartan Soccer Field.
The Spartans missed a few scoring opportunities in the first half of the game.
In the 18th minute, Forward Adrian Diaz attempted a free kick but unfortunately, it was saved.
As the first half went on, the Spartans were struggling to score their first goal of the game. The score was 0-2 Prairie State at the end of the first half.
In the second half of the game, the Spartans continue their scoring struggles as time goes on.
Defender Ariel Gomez scored the first and only team’s goal of the game in the 26th minute of the second half.
As time went on in the second half, the team tried their best to tie the game but unfortunately, they missed the opportunity to end the game in a draw.
Head Coach Dimitri Tsoukalas explained why the team was struggling defensively in this game.
“ I think we were just a little disconnected. We talked about how we wanted to approach the game, and I think the communication part was just kind of missing, which I feel like we’ve been better with but today, we just started out slow and we got punished for it.”
According to Tsoukalas, he commented on what practice drill the team can do in order to improve their communication.
“There’s a lot of things that we can do. It’s not necessarily just one activity. It just starts even like when we just show up together. Hey, you want to just shake someone’s hand, just go talk to them. Hey, how was your day? It’s just, it’s little things like that, little details that can help.”
Tsoukalas stated if Prairie State College is one of the easiest opponents this season.
“No, they’re definitely a solid side. They’ve got a really good reputation and one of the top teams, not just in the region, but nationally as well. That’s why if you saw the emotions of the game, it was expected, they’re one of the top teams.”
Defender Ariel Gomez answered a question regarding his individual performance.
“I think individually, I scored a goal, the only goal, but it wasn’t enough. I think I perform pretty well.”
He explained if he needed to work on pressure in certain situations of the game.
“I think today I should have pressured the team a little bit more in the beginning, because that’s when they scored both goals. If we would have started off hot, I think we would have been a lot better at the end.”
According to Gomez, he mentioned what practice drill he wanted to do in order to improve his chemistry with the team.
“I think having a drill that we could have fun with and it’s not too serious so then we all just get closer, and just level off.”
Gomez explained the practice drill that the team would do to improve their chemistry.
“Rondo like a monkey in the middle.”
The team’s next game will be at home against Illinois Valley Community College on Saturday.
