RICHARDSON, Tx. – Whitman College's men's soccer team suffered another close loss Saturday evening, this time coming against the University of Texas at Dallas. The Missionaries cut a 2-0 deficit to one with 15 minutes remaining in the game, but were unable to fully recover, falling 2-1 to the Comets.
 
UT-Dallas (3-0) scored in the 11th minute when Danny Meyer shot one by Whitman's (0-3) Milo Cantor. The Missionaries had opportunities to pull even, but were unable to do so early. In the 29th minute, Noah Cavanaugh's corner kick connected with Nathanael Fleming who missed high, keeping the deficit at one for the Whitties.
 
The second half started similar to the first, with the Comets taking three shots within a eight-minute span, and scoring in the 55th minute and taking a commanding 2-0 lead. In the 60th minute Whitman nearly cut into the UT-Dallas lead on two separate occasions; however, Park Harmon's and Trayvon Foy's goals were saved by UT-Dallas goalkeeper Joseph Weber.
 
Finally, in the 76th minute, Whitman's Bridger Sellegren found Connor Welty on a cross from the right side. Welty was able to connect with the back of the net and narrow the margin to 1. The final gasp from the Whitties came in the final four minutes with Ben Freedman missing wide and Clayton Over's shot blocked by Weber in the 88th minute.
 
Though the Missionaries were unable to grab a win on their Texas Road Trip, there were positives to take note of during the three-game span. Saturday showed Whitman taking seven shots on goal and scoring on a UT-Dallas team that had not allowed a goal in their first two games; the Whitties also had a season-high seven corner kicks against the Comets.
 
After playing three games in as many days Whitman will not play for ten days and look forward to returning home in their next outing. The next game is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15 against Walla Walla University at 7 p.m., Whitman's first and only home game before heading back out on the road for the start of Northwest Conference play.