WATERLOO, IA – Indian Hills Men's Soccer tasted defeated for the first time this season Tuesday in Waterloo as Hawkeye shutout the Warriors, 3-0.

After a couple of victories that left first-year IHCC Head Coach James Ross feeling less than pleased, one might be surprised to learn that the script was flipped after the Warriors first loss of 2021.

"Soccer is the most ungrateful game in the world," Ross said.  "A lot of times the better team doesn't win, and I felt like that was the case in this game."

The superior team was certainly up for debate even sixty minutes into the contest as both teams were locked in a scoreless tie before Hawkeye's Joe Baston broke through with a goal with less than 20 minutes left.  It was prior to that point that Ross felt like his team was winning the battle.

"We had made a big adjustment in our formation, and I felt like we did very well in it," Ross said.  "It was by far our best effort of the season.  In the first half, Hawkeye could not get it out of their own end."

It was the second half, or more accurately, the last six minutes of the contest that were the problem for the Warriors, however, as after surrendering just the one goal up until that point, the dam broke as the RedTails found the back of the net twice in a one-minute stretch to put things out of reach.  Baston was back at it again for HCC with his second goal and then Ade Sotoyinbo finished off the scoring in the 74th minute.

"Our team played well, and they did exactly what we wanted them to do," Ross added.  "But, in the end, we did not finish our chances when we had them. We made too many mistakes on fouls in the wrong part of the pitch. 

IHCC did have three consecutive one-on-one opportunities with the Hawkeye goalkeeper to cash in in the waning minutes, but could not capitalize.

"That was frustrating to have one v one chances and not even get shots off," Ross said. "We did get one shot fired, but it ended up in the creek and I think they are still looking for the ball."

The Warriors (2-1-1) host No. 13-ranked Marshalltown Thursday at IHCC.  Game time is set for 1 p.m.  The Tigers' lone defeat is a 2-1 home loss at MCC to Hawkeye on April 10.

Scoring Summary

Period           Time  Team Play                                                             V-H

2^nd                 60:54  HCC    Joe Baston (unassisted)                               0-1

2^nd                 74:08  HCC    Joe Baston (from Ade Stoyinbo)                    0-2

2^nd                 74:57   HCC    Ade Sotoyinbo (from Will Ansah)                  0-3