WICHITA - The Newman men's soccer season may not have opened the way head coach Cliff Brown had hoped, as the Jets dropped a 1-0 decision to Missouri-St. Louis Thursday afternoon at Wilkins Field. Hans Hassell and Brandon Carlos each had opportunities to score for the Jets, but both came up empty.
Missouri-St. Louis (1-0-0) felt Newman (0-1-0) out for the first 15 minutes of the game, then struck two minutes later when Jordan Bruce beat Newman freshman keeper Robin Allard from the left corner, 15 yards out. Johnny O'Mara was credited with the assist that gave the Tritons a 1-0 lead just 17:06 into the game. UMSL held the Jets scoreless for the remainder of the first half, and held a 1-0 advantage at the halftime break.
Both teams picked up where they left off in the second half. UMSL out-shot Newman 4-2 in the second period, but Newman was awarded four corner kicks in the final 45 minutes. Down the stretch, the Tritons had four opportunities to score, but Allard turned all four away to keep the UMSL advantage at one goal. The Jets were limited to just two shots, one of which was on goal, in the second half.
Thursday's loss marked the 17th-consecutive season-opening loss for the Jets. Newman's last season-opening win came in 1996, when the Jets knocked off Missouri Baptist, 4-2, in the season opener.
The Jets are back in action Monday when they host NAIA foe Tabor College in a 7 p.m. Labor Day contest at Wilkins Field.
--newmanjets.com--