Paulo Nunes

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster men's soccer team opened the 2017 season with a 2-0 loss to Marietta College on a breezy Friday evening at Carl Dale Memorial Field in Wooster, Ohio.

Content with playing back at the start, Marietta (1-0-0) found success early in transitional efforts without enjoying much possession. The Pioneers broke through in the 33rd minute as Will Walther delivered a low corner kick to teammate Josh Baskind, who hammered home a short-distance rocket to the near-post upper-corner for the game-winner. Both players subbed in just minutes prior.

Before that, Wooster's Max Rochester came close with a 20-yard shot but found his low-hit ball drifting wide left.

After 45 minutes, the Pioneer's outshot Wooster (0-1-0) by a 6-3 margin.

In the second half, Wooster junior Andrew Klein freed open some space before tucking one to the back post, only to be corralled by Marietta 'keeper Tyler Sholl.

Minutes later, sophomore Paulo Nunes, the local product out of Orrville, Ohio, put a rip far post from the top-left corner of the 18, again only to be saved by a fully-stretched Sholl.

With Wooster looking to press in the final 10 minutes, Marietta capitalized on the counter attack, netting the insurance tally in the 83rd minute after a shot from Baskind rebounded to the feet Andy Rolfes, who tapped it home on the far-post put-back.

Wooster 'keeper Will Collis finished with eight saves. Nunes led the team in shots with three while Klein led with two shots on goal.

The Scots resume play tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. against Washington & Jefferson College at Carl Dale Memorial Field.