SALT LAKE CITY – The Carroll College men's soccer team fell 2-1 in a season-opening loss to The Master's College in a neutral site game at Westminster College's Dumke Field.
 
Jose Porras scored the lone goal for the Saints in his debut in purple and black. He had four total shots on the game, including two on goal.
 
"It was a very even game against one of the best teams in the country," head coach Doug Mello said. "They received votes in the preseason poll and we battled them to the end of the game but couldn't get the equalizer."
 
The Saints and Mustangs battled to a scoreless first half but The Master's Austin Rochow hit a shot from the far post from 20 yards out to take a 1-0 in just the second minute of the second half.
 
Carroll answered less than three minutes later when Porras was fouled in the box led to a penalty kick for Porras. The goalie went right and Porras buried the equalizer to the left side for the equalizer.
 
A Carroll foul in a crowded box led to a penalty kick for the Mustangs and Humphry Mahowa scored the game winner in the 55th minute.
 
Carroll nearly equalized in the 87th minute when a shot by Alessio Georgiades went just high but the Mustangs held on for the win.
 
The teams each had 14 shots but the Saints had seven shots on goal to the Mustangs' four.
 
Five freshmen started for Carroll while The Master's started just two.
 
"They are a very experienced team and we had a lot of young players on the field," Mello said. "Jose Porras showed some signs of being a big goal scorer. Jonathan Taylor had a great game in the center back and Alessio was a big presence in the middle."
 
The Saints defense was a highlight for Mello. Led by junior Jacob Groh the backline could be a strength on the Carroll team.
 
"They had some very cheeky players and our defense played hard," Mello said. "Jacob played a great game in the back and kept them from getting into a grove. This is something to build on moving forward."
 
Carroll plays Westminster Saturday at noon in the second game of the road trip.