COSTA MESA, Calif. - The Jessup Men's Soccer team (1-6-2, 0-4-0 PacWest) engaged in a grueling defensive battle Saturday afternoon but ultimately fell short, dropping a narrow contest to the Vanguard Lions at VU Soccer Field, 0-1.
From the opening whistle, the match was a tightly contested affair, defined by stout defending in the midfield and back line. The Warriors' effort was led by a determined defensive unit that limited Vanguard to just 12 total shots over 90 minutes.
Jessup goalkeeper Alonso Rios delivered a strong performance in net, recording 6 saves and controlling his box to keep the Warriors within striking distance throughout the entire match. Rios commanded the defense with authority and came up with key stops, forcing the Lions to work hard for every chance.
Despite the Warriors' resilience, Vanguard managed to capitalize just before the halftime whistle. The Lions found the decisive goal in the 74th minute when Juan Vazquez found the back of the net.. The goal came at 74:40, marking the only successful breach of the Warrior defense.
Trailing by a single goal in the second half, the Jessup offense pressed relentlessly to find the leveler. The Warriors matched the Lions' offensive output closely, registering 10 total shots on the day, with 3 finding the target.
Jessup's best offensive pushes were consistently thwarted by the Vanguard defense and their goalkeeper, who protected the clean sheet. The Warriors continued to fight until the final horn, maintaining a high level of intensity and desire, but could not force overtime.
The Warriors will look to carry their defensive tenacity into their next outing in Southern California against Concordia University in Irvine on Tuesday, October 7th. Kick-off will start at 6:30 PM.
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Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
