By: Sean Neidig, sports information graduate assistant

SALISBURY, Md. - After a commanding 1-0 shutout win on Friday, Capital University Men's Soccer conceded the first two of its young season in a 2-0 loss to St. Mary's College (Md.) on Saturday.

Both teams battled evenly throughout the first half, with the Seahawks (1-1) taking six shots to Capital's (1-1) seven.

The first breakthrough of the game came at the 55:19 mark when Sunny Chhatani was awarded a free kick from the left side of the box and buried the ensuing shot into the Cap goal.

St. Mary's added their second goal in the 80th minute off the head of Luke Barber. James Carter sent a cross in from the left baseline that Barber redirected past Capital goalkeeper Justin Niswonger (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville). Niswonger stopped the other two shots on goal he faced during the game.

The Purple and White opened the game with a scoring chance less than two minutes off the clock. Cap forward Trevor Collins (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) took a corner that was headed towards the St. Mary's net by Tristan Bentley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop McNicholas) but Bentley's attempt sailed over the crossbar and out of play.

Calvin Saunders and Shane Niemeier both took two shots each for the Crusaders and each had a shot on goal. Seahawk keeper Patrick Paolini made four total saves on the day. Andrew McEwen (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West) and Sebastian Duque (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) also had shots on goal for Cap.

McEwen forced Paolini to stop his shot in the 74th minute but as a team, Capital only managed two shots in the second half.

The Crusaders will have the week to make adjustments before they face one of their toughest challenges of the season on Sept. 8 when they welcome No.3 St. Thomas (Minn.) to Purmort Field at Bernlohr Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.