The WTAMU men’s soccer team saw stands full of fans on Sept. 2 as they played their first game of the season at The Pitch against the Colorado School of Mines. In a hard-played game, the Orediggers beat WT 3-1.
Both teams came out hard from the start, but within three minutes of the first half the Orediggers scored their first goal of the game. However, WT responded and Lukas Garcia tied the game in the 17th minute. The Orediggers would score two more goals in the last 13 minutes of the first half to take the lead and win the game.
The second half saw the Buffs come on the field with renewed energy, attacking the opposition’s net and taking more chances. However, the second period was scoreless for both teams, even after some tense moments that had fans on the edge of their seats.
While the Buffs’ only goal came in the first half, Head Coach Butch Lauffer felt his team played a better second half overall.
“The first half we beat ourselves with three silly mistakes, but the second half was much better. We didn’t give up a goal and we created quite a few chances,” Coach Lauffer said. “Overall, the second half was much better and the first half wasn’t so great.”
But even with the disappointing loss, there were still some good aspects about the game, goal scorer Lukas Garcia pointed out.
“I feel like we had a couple of unlucky breaks but it’s the first game of the season,” Lukas said. “They were number nine in the nation and I think we beat them so that’s definitely good motivation.”
Coach Lauffer said there is room for improvement to help the team get on the right foot for the rest of the season, even with some players on the injured list.
“We need to improve our defending overall and our finishing,” Coach Lauffer said. I don’t really feel that we got beat. I feel that we beat ourselves. We need to quit making those kinds of mistakes, that’s the first step. I think this will be a good motivator.”
The Buffs will play their first Lone Star Conference game at Eastern New Mexico University at 4 p.m. on Sept. 11.
