FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Soccer team dropped their Wednesday home match to Salem (WV) 2-0.
 
Within the first two minutes, FSU nearly took the lead, as a run down the right side by freshman Frank Stare found senior Carlos Quintero Rivas for a deflected header, which fell to sophomore Andrew Denard four yards from goal, but he fired over the bar. The Tigers then began to control possession for much of the half but found chances hard to come by. One shot was blazed high off the crossbar, while sophomore keeper Jacob Taylor made a pair of comfortable saves over the next 20 minutes.
 
With just 10 minutes to go in the half, SU put another effort through the football uprights, while holding the Bobcats without a shot. On a corner kick with seven until the break, Copper West unleashed an effort from the top of the box, but Taylor flew to his right to tip the ball over the bar for another corner. Salem had another pair of shots go wide of goal as the game entered halftime at 0-0.
 
The Tigers came flying out of the gate to begin the second period, as Caleb Christner was played down the right side and scorched a shot from the right side of the 18 into the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead inside two minutes. Christner was a constant threat against the FSU backline, putting another effort just wide before getting his head to a ball that was clawed away by Taylor.
 
SU continued to maintain their stronghold of the game for the next 15 minutes, with Frostburg getting in front of a pair of shots to block them. Christner would in turn pass down the right side to CJ Branch, who cut in on his left foot and curled a shot into nearly the same spot of the goal as his teammate to push ahead 2-0.
 
Searching for a way back into the game, junior Hugo Portillo tried to catch keeper Jason Barrientos out with a shot from distance but went off target. Freshman Michael James then tried to test Barrientos but couldn't get enough power on his left-footed effort. As the game ticked into the final 10 minutes, FSU's best chance would end up falling to senior Nick Varkarotas, who blasted from 30 yards out but was too close to Barrientos, who tipped away for a corner. Late on, Stare tried to catch Barrientos out at his near post on a free kick, which was easily gathered as the visitors took the 2-0 victory.
 
The Tigers held a 15-8 advantage in shots, with seven on target to the Bobcats' three.
 
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 4-6-2 on the year, while Salem improves to 2-6-5. FSU will next hit the road to face West Liberty on Sunday, October 19 at 1 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.