LANCASTER, Pa. – The Ursinus College men's soccer team created chances in the second half but eventually fell to No. 18 Franklin & Marshall 2-0 on Friday evening.
 
The Diplomats earned the first two shots of the match in the opening minutes as Jordan Samuels and Shay Adamson each missed high. The Bears defense continued to play well in the opening ten minutes stuffing the next two Diplomat chances. Junior goalkeeper Peter Schoenberg made two incredible saves in the 11^th minute to keep the score tied. Franklin & Marshall's Adam Green created space within the box and sent a line-drive shot on net as Schoenberg made a diving save to his right. The rebound found Koa Kaliebe and his shot was once again denied by Schoenberg.
 
Franklin & Marshall finally broke through in the 17^th minute as Shay Adamson scored his second goal of the season for the Diplomats. Much of the first half consisted of a battle of the midfields and neither team could find the back of the net against each team's back lines.
 
In the opening minutes of the second half, senior Aidan O'Malley earned the first opportunity for the Bears. From outside the box, O'Malley sent a long arching shot on net saved by Franklin & Marshall's Nolan Booth. In the 53rd minute, Kaliebe gave the Diplomats a 2-0 advantage after converting on a shot from inside the box for his third goal of the season.
 
In the 68^th minute, the Bears offense created three opportunities with the best chance coming from freshman Colin Deal. On a free kick attempt from the far side of the field, a strong cross came flying into the box as Deal connected with a header that was saved by the crossbar. The rebound found sophomore Alexander Woll with space in front of the net, but his shot was blocked by the Diplomats defense. After a battle for the ball, Woll earned another opportunity, but his shot sailed just high to keep the Bears deficit at two. Each defense stepped up over the last twenty minutes not allowing another opportunity as the game finished 2-0.
 
Nolan Booth earned the victory in net for the Diplomats earning one save, while Schoenberg was dealt the loss collecting five saves. Ursinus amped up the pressure in the second half combing for a total of six shots but the Diplomats defense stood tall halting each opportunity.
 
"We played a very good team tonight and it's these games that offer us the most experience in improving and growing through adversity," Head Coach Daniel Clitnovici said. "Although the result didn't go our way, I'm confident that we got better tonight and that we will continue to move forward and make the most of these opportunities."
 
The Bears will return to action on Tuesday with a non-conference matchup against Penn State Berks ay 7pm.