For the first time in over a month, the Grand Rapids Community College men’s soccer team has been defeated, this time at the hands of fellow conference opponent, Muskegon Community College. It was a back-and-forth game between the two teams, but a decisive penalty in the 88th minute gave Muskegon all they would need to secure a win, ending the Raiders unbeaten run.
The Raiders could not convert a goal in the first half despite nine shots, four of which were on target. However, GRCC was able to hold Muskegon to just five shots the whole half and no goals, a common occurrence for the Raider defense, which has been a strong suit for the team this season.
The Raiders were given three yellow cards in the first half and seven fouls overall, while Muskegon received just one second-half yellow card on five total fouls.
The second half picked up for the Raiders offensively, controlling much of the possession and registering more than double Muskegon’s shots, 12-5. A clutch goal-line clearance by Muskegon kept the game scoreless, but the Raiders were knocking on the door.
After a few more close misses and jawing back and forth between the players, the first domino of the game fell, after a penalty was given in favor of Muskegon. All of the referees in the game had to come together for a conversation to come to a final decision, but in the end the officials stuck by their official ruling.
“You could say it was a penalty, you could say it wasn’t,” said sophomore midfielder Cristian Diaz after the game. “Regardless the referee never called that a penalty right away, it wasn’t until the Muskegon players came to him and he came to that decision.”
Eduardo Verdugo of Muskegon was able to slot the penalty home in the top right corner to give his team the lead late in the game. An emotional Muskegon team ran to the corner flag to celebrate the goal, but the Raiders still had a few minutes to find a late equalizer.
After a couple of shots at the goal, Muskegon found a breakaway opportunity with the Raider players high up the pitch, Muskegon capitalized and scored a goal in the 90th minute to seal the deal, 2-0.
“I thought we played really well, with a minute to go we let our emotions get a hold of us, which we’ve been having issues with in the past,” said GRCC’s head coach Damiekco Smith. “That’s like four games we’ve lost in the last minute or so because when the pressure comes, instead of being calm we panic.”
During the game and after the final whistle, many GRCC players were talking to the refs about some of their decisions, something Smith wants to change.
“We’ve been too busy arguing with refs instead of playing,” Smith said. “The bottom line is we’re too busy talking to refs when we’re in battle. It’s like being at war and taking the time to talk to the referee. When you’re at war, you can’t do that, you have to stay until you’re the last man standing and we didn’t do that.”
Losing is something the Raiders did not have to experience after excellent play in the month of September. But even after a loss to Muskegon, there doesn’t seem to be much worry.
“I think we definitely dominated and we showed we could definitely beat this team, we could definitely beat any team,” said Diaz. “I think our biggest opponent should be Schoolcraft, we shouldn’t have to even worry about Muskegon. I think the next game we will show our positives we did today and score our goals.”
Smith shares the same state of mind as Diaz even after the loss.
“We’re gonna be fine,” Smith said “We played that game without three of our starters. For us to dominate the game like that, that opened my eyes to a lot of things I can do now when my starters return.”
The Raiders are scheduled to take on St. Clair Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Midwest United Complex in Kentwood. GRCC lost to St. Clair on Sept. 3 by a score of 2-1, the Raiders’ second-most recent loss after the Muskegon game
