The Malone University men's soccer team dropped a match to Findlay on a rain-soaked Thursday afternoon by a score of 2-1. The Pioneers fall to 4-6-4 overall this season, 3-5-3 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Findlay advances their record to 9-5-1 overall and 6-5-1 in the G-MAC. The Oilers have accumulated 19 conference points and clinched berth into the Conference Tournament.
 
The game had to be moved to GlenOak High School due to wet field conditions, and the precipitation took a toll on athletes from both sides, especially in the second half of Thursday's contest. In the early goings, it looked as if the sky would clear up and allow the participants to smoothly operate around the field. However, a monsoon was unleashed in the second, leaving players slipping and sliding around the pitch and the ball was waterlogged in puddles several times.
 
The Pioneers looked to have scoring opportunities early, but a flurry of offsides calls spoiled the potential attack. Simon Eybert and Patrick Alvarez had shots saved by Oiler keeper Garrett Arbogast in the 16th and 22nd minutes.
 
In the 26th minute, Josh Hales netted a Findlay goal after a free ball was collected in the attacking zone and he beat the netminder one-on-one and converted with an open net.
 
Shortly thereafter, Kegan Winkler made it 2-0 in favor of the Oilers. The score was set up by a corner kick from Josh Dickinson and Winkler headed the ball through the teeth of the Pioneer defense that was huddled around the net.
 
Shots were few and far between in the ocean-like conditions of half number two. In the 58th minute, the Pioneers made their way up the sideline via throw-ins and once in their attacking zone, the Pioneers cut the deficit in half with an impressive goal.
 
Jamal Rasheed threw the ball in from the far side of the field, Christopher Mally got a touch to Austin Coldsnow, who hung in the air like a disco ball and netted a goal on a magnificent bicycle kick. For Coldsnow, it is his first goal of the season. The assists by Mally and Rasheed was the second for each of them in 2019.
 
Malone showed heart, but did not have the same magic as in the previous two matches where the Pioneers notched an equalizing goal with under three minutes to play and ultimately fell 2-1.
 
Findlay outshot Malone 12-7 in the game.
 
Coldsnow and Eybert led the way in shots with two apiece, followed by Alvarez, Nathan McFeaters and Jeff Kreinbrook with one shot each.
 
In goal, Alexandre Durand made six saves and brings his total to 43 on the year.
 
Malone is in action next on Saturday, November 2 for Senior Day versus the Tiffin University Dragons. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 pm, following the women's match at 11:30 am.