Box Score Ripon 2 Lakeland 1

Ripon College scored twice late in the first half and the Lakeland University men's soccer team was unable to dig all the way out of a two-goal hole in a 2-1 non-conference loss Sunday afternoon in its season opener.

Michecadet Gethand (So.-Jackson, Wis.) scored his first goal of the season late in the match, but the Muskies came up on short despite a considerable advantage in shot attempts. Lakeland outshot the Red Hawks 14-6, including a 12-5 lead in shots on goal, but was unable to find the net until the 83rd minute and was unable to score the equalizer despite three chances in the final six minutes.

Ripon (1-2 overall) scored its first goal on a penalty kick, converted by Eli Dietzel at 32 minutes, 55 seconds of the match. The Red Hawks added a second goal just over four minutes later in the 38th minute, with Jacob Oppeneer converted off a crossing pass with assists from Dietzel and Matthew Klopp.

Lakeland came up empty on six shots on goal in the first half, including attempts late in the half by Ben Taylor (Fr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) and Daniel Siebert (Fr.-Mount Pulaski, Ill.). The Muskies also missed chances early in the second half and were scoreless until 82:31 of the match, when Gethand outbattled goalkeeper Kalen Narance for the ball and scored his fourth career goal.

Lakeland kept the pressure on and generated three more shots in the closing minutes. Gethand had a shot blocked in the 85th minute, and a shot by Brandon Uhlean (So.-Tinley Park, Ill.) was saved seconds later. The final chance came with 3:06 left in the match when Suleiman Haji (So.-Mankato, Minn.) had his shot attempt blocked, and the Muskies would not get another shot off.

Gethand and Michael Barragan (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) both led Lakeland with three shot attempts each, including Barragan striking three shots on goal. Narance made 11 saves to earn the win in goal for Ripon, while Zach Heiman (So.-Racine, Wis.) made his first collegiate start and stopped three shots for the Muskies.

Lakeland now gets ready for its home opener coming this Friday when it welcomes Beloit College for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Taylor Field.