I couldn't attend but watched it on tv. I thought we were somewhat unfocused and resorted to some of offensive tendencies from last couple of years..which include passing without purpose and not being connected on both sides.
I really don't understand having your center backs playing way up on the other side of midfield without any rotation back from someone else. This is opening door to counter attacks and two on ones like we saw tonight. At one point Fajita lost a challenge on ball and Duggan was left alone 1 vs 2. If they are 2-3 steps behind center line that challenge doesn't happen. From my recall similar happened on their goal. Why when up a goal would you do that? In hockey terms, when the defense jumps into the offensive play, the opposite defenseman will cover the area of the defensemen engaged in offense and then a back rotation takes place from a forward. In soccer terms, Duggan would have replaced Fajita once he was dispossessed and then a wing back or MF on other half would have rotated back to replace Duggan. In that case once ball goes on Fajita side towards center line, the WB/MF etc would start cheating toward center line in case they are needed to backfill. Especially when HP has had the propensity to generate offense better than others we have played. Maybe someone else can explain.
When you lack intensity and focus anyone is capable of beating you and we lacked that tonight. I would say Perotta, Theo Goddard and Silva were only three out there I thought were fully engaged. I do think HP gained from not playing for a week and focusing solely on Marshall while getting good rest helped them. They knew our situation coming in and had a good plan. On normal night that would be a 4-1 game IMO. For our part, not sure why we wouldn't use our depth a little more. Sordo hasn't played in two matches now, for example. Aoumaich, as we saw last night, can be a head case at times. We play like that at JMU and we'll lose. All things considered, i'll take the ugly win and give HP some credit. Great crowd.
Around league, UK came back from 0-2 to win 3-2 at home vs Lipscomb. GA southern lost at home to North Florida. Don't know about anyone else who played. WVU hosts #3 Portland today. This would be a big win for SB RPI. Women play undefeated Liberty tomorrow at Hoops.