3 Thomas More 4

Thomas More, 3-time defending champions of the President's Athletic Conference, came to EC for a midweek game. Undefeated so far in 2012, TMC ended last year ranked 18th nationally, losing in the NCAA first round to Hope.

The first half sees us play perhaps our best of the season so far, with a large advantage in possession and chances. Early on Felicien Muyumba slams a shot off the post and back into play. Shortly thereafter Evan Elko receives a beautiful through ball from Alex Ferreira and is in on goal, and is denied when the keeper gets a touch on his shot and the ball is cleared. In the 26th minute, Tamru Taye, playing right back, drifts inside about 25 yards from goal on his left and sends a bomb into the upper near corner for a one goal lead. In the 35th minute Shvan Al-Hussein plays a 1-2 with Felipe Buitrago and beats the advancing keeper for a 2-0 halftime lead.

You know what they say about a two goal lead being dangerous---well it was. Despite anything we can say at the interval, we don't begin the second half well. Thomas More plays far more directly (an oft-heard theme in our matches) and we lack the defensive discipline to deal with the pressure. Twelve second half fouls give TMC the chance to serve balls into our area, which, when added to 12 throwins in our half give us more air ball than we can handle and with goals in the 59th, 80th and 83rd minutes they lead 3-2.

In the 89th minute we're chasing the game when Corey Campbell launches one of his long throws from the left and Mussa Ibrahim gets to the ball on the back post to tie it up at 3-3. Justice maybe since Mussa had a chance go just wide which would have restored a 2-goal lead for us earlier. Then as I'm thinking about preparing for overtime, another long throw of theirs bounces around the box and is finished with seconds remaining.

The game was a blow to our confidence on a variety of levels but it does help us see where we can be better. Conference play is on the horizon and we have work to do for sure.