COLLEGEVILLE, PA. - Two second half goals proved to be the difference as the Ursinus College men's soccer team dropped their season opener to Stockton University, 2-0.  
 
The first half proved to be a back-and-forth match as each team was unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Stockton's Dawson Joseph recorded the first shot of the game after a header found the gloves of Peter Schoenberg. The Bears were awarded a corner kick in the 15th minute and after Aidan O'Malley fired his cross into the box, a deflection led to an open look, but the Osprey's defense closed in and earned a block.  
 
The Bears defense and Schoenberg faced multiple opportunities from Stockton over the final minutes of the first half but stepped up to keep the score tied 0-0 after 45 minutes. At halftime, Stockton held a slight advantage in shots 5-3 while each team notched one corner kick opportunity.  
 
The Osprey's jumped on the board first in the second half after being awarded a corner kick in the 49th minute, a Peter Kozlej pass found the head of Paul Bechtelheimer who capitalized and found the back of the net to make the score 1-0. Following a turnover by the Bears in the 76th minute, Stockton's Brendan Deal found Mohammed Bangoura along the left side who snuck his shot into the top of the net to make the score 2-0.  
 
After the ensuing touch, senior Aidan O'Malley fired a shot from midfield almost catching Stockton's goalkeeper Liam Brett off balance but a save led to a Bears corner kick. O'Malley took the corner attempt, but his cross was denied by the Ospreys defense.  
 
The Bears offense continued to push the pressure over the final five minutes earning five shots including two on net. Stockton finished with a slight 11-10 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in corner opportunities. Stockton's goalkeeper Liam Brett earned the win in net while collecting four saves, meanwhile Peter Schoenberg for Ursinus impressed in his first career start earning four saves.  

"I'm proud of the collective team effort, we faced a strong opponent and did a lot of things well against them," Head Coach Daniel Clitnovici said. "We need to be much more patient in the attacking half and cherish the ball more. For the few weeks we have been together, I'm proud of where we are at and I'm looking for a response going into the next few games." 
 
The Bears will return to action on Saturday as they travel to face Penn St. Abington starting at 1pm from Memorial Field.