MOUNT OLIVE (Sept. 26) – Despite scoring the opening goal of the contest, the Trojans fell by a 2-1 margin against Chowan on Tuesday night in Conference Carolinas play at Amon Field.

With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men's soccer team drops to 1-5-1 this season with a 1-3 record in league action. The Hawks have won the last three meetings in the series with all of those matches decided by one goal. Meanwhile, Chowan improves to 3-3-1 overall with a 3-1 mark in conference play.

Mount Olive jumped ahead in the fifth minute of the contest after a crossing into the box by junior Guilherme Semola found freshman Manny Duran, who scored his first collegiate goal, 1-0. The Hawks quickly responded on the offensive end with three corner kicks and a shot as they looked for the equalizing goal. At the 35:00 mark, Chowan was awarded a free kick on the top of the box. Charley Leech laced the free kick off the right post before Abdoulie Sanneh tapped it into the back of the net to tie the game, 1-1. The game went into the break tied, as the Hawks held a 4-2 edge in shots following 45 minutes.

In the second half, Chowan continued to pressure the net and nearly took the lead at the 60:05 mark after a mistake on the backline forced junior goalkeeper Axel Engren into a pair of saves in under 20 seconds. The Trojans managed to flip the field and total four shots before the physicality picked up with each side receiving two yellow cards. In the 89th minute, Chowan forced a turnover near midfield and got onto the counterattack when Alex Espinoza hit the game-winning goal off a deflection to secure the 2-1 win.

Engren played all 90 minutes and totaled five saves on 16 shots faced on Tuesday.

The Hawks finished with a 7-1 advantage in shots on goal, while also holding a 7-1 edge in corner kicks.

Mount Olive returns to the field on Friday, Sept. 29, when it hosts Southern Wesleyan in conference action at 1 p.m.