Blinn College men’s soccer went toe-to-toe with Region XIV rival and 19th-ranked Coastal Bend College on Tuesday, but came up short in a 2-1 loss at home.
The conference matchup, played at Rankin Field inside Hohlt Park in Brenham, Texas, resulted in the Buccaneers’ only home loss this season. Blinn is now 9-4 overall and 3-3 in region play.
“We expected a barn-burner and that’s what we got,” Buccaneers head coach Michael McBride said. “The lads stayed toe-to-toe with yet another ranked opponent tonight. We’re not that far off those ranked teams and I believe we’re getting closer each game. If we stay focused, continue to work hard, and keep improving, our day will come.”
The Cougars took control of the matchup just 18 seconds in as a collision between players resulted in a penalty kick for Coastal Bend. The visitors converted the chance for a 1-0 lead.
(Pictured: Blinn’s Toby Lansdowne, center, makes a play on the ball during a match against Coastal Bend College on Sept. 26, 2023)
After the two clubs went into halftime separated by just one goal, the Cougars added to their lead in the 56th minute.
Blinn would get on the board when sophomore midfielders Toby Lansdowne and Tom Hooper linked up for a goal in the 86th minute. Lansdowne’s tally was his second of the season.
Coastal Bend outshot the Bucs 16-6.
In goal for Blinn was freshman keeper Noah LeMaster, who recorded six saves across 90 minutes of play.
The Bucs continue play when they host Texas Southmost College for a region bout at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, at Rankin Field.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 44 NJCAA national championships since 1987.?
