COLORADO SPRINGS-- UC Santa Cruz men's soccer faced Coast-To-Coast Conference opponent Christopher Newport University, falling 5-0 in a hard fought game hosted at Colorado College.
 
The match began with a flurry of action as UC Santa Cruz unleashed two early shots in the 4th minute, courtesy of Jackson Chandler and Tyler Allred, signaling their intent to take control of the game. However, despite their early efforts, they were unable to find the back of the net.
 
As the first half progressed, UC Santa Cruz continued to press forward, with Soren Groessl and Acer Cristea taking two more shots in the 38th minute. Zander Crawford added to the offensive push with an attempt on goal through a well-executed counter-attack in the 40th minute.
 
UC Santa Cruz's defensive line stood firm, frustrating Christopher Newport's attempts to capitalize on multiple corner kicks. Goalkeeper Kian Van der Meer showcased his talent with several crucial saves, preventing the deficit from growing beyond one goal.
 
Heading into halftime, UC Santa Cruz trailed by only one goal. Unfortunately, Christopher Newport gained momentum and scored four goals in the second half to take the game.
 
The game saw moments of determination and resilience from the Banana Slugs. As they regroup and prepare for their next match, the Banana Slugs will look to build upon their strengths and work towards future successes in the season.
 
UC Santa Cruz is now 2-4-1 and will close the weekend trip by facing Colorado College on Sunday.