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By Alyssa Grevenkamp
@Gbabyy20
The Findlay Men’s soccer team just missed the cut to head to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament this season. The Oilers were one win away from going, but dropped their last three games at home which knocked them out of postseason play.
The men had an outstanding home streak going until their last three games of the season. They dropped their last three games of the year to Northwood, Saginaw Valley, and Tiffin.
The last two games were heartbreakers for the Oilers. They played nationally ranked Saginaw Valley on Oct. 25 at DeHaven Field.
At first, the Oilers jumped out in front quickly as senior Mark Sleasman assisted senior teammate Veselin Panchev to score from the top of the box 16 minutes in the game. Panchev had scored his third goal of the season and that goal put the Oilers ahead 1-0.
Findlay gave up a late first half goal to Saginaw Valley’s Andrew Dalou to make it a tie game going into the half.
The Oilers fought, though. They would score again in the 66 minutes into the game when sophomore Ryan Husband finished a deflection off Saginaw’s goal keeper to take a 2-1 lead. Sleasman was credited with his second assist of the game.
Just when you thought Findlay had the advantage to win the game, the tide quickly turned in favor of the Cardinals.
Saginaw responded quickly with back to back goals in the 78th and 79th minute. They took the game 3-2.
The men’s next and final game of the season was on Oct. 30 when they took on the Tiffin Dragons.
The Oilers created many opportunities in the match, started by their seniors. Findlay had a total of 17 shots in the game, but only one found the back of the net.
The first and only goal for Findlay was scored by Sleasman in the 27th minute of play. It was his 11th goal of the season and he was assisted by freshman Michael Shaikly. This goal would tie the game up at 1-1 going into halftime.
The Oilers continued to battle, but the Dragons capitalized and took the game 3-1.
The loss gave the Oilers a season record of 9-7-1. Findlay just missed the playoffs and will look to next season. The Oilers will lose nine seniors including Mark Sleasman, Ryan Repas, Peter Lyatuu, Aidan Curran, Jordan Gozelski, Jordan Hanson, Veselin Panchev, Ole Bertelmann, and Clinton Eyong.
