Tiffin, OH – The Heidelberg University men's soccer team suffered a tough 3-2 defeat to the Adrian College Bulldogs in their final non-conference bout of the 2021 campaign.
 
Despite Kelly Itito's two-goal performance, the Student Princes could not hold off the Bulldogs second-half surge. 
 
Just ten minutes into the contest, Itito pressed the Adrian keeper, Jackson Vacca, who rushed off his line. Vacca misplayed the ball at his feet and the onrushing Itito made clean tackle to earn possession and tally an open-net goal.
 
Itito doubled up less than five minutes later to extend the Berg lead to 2-0. Rafael Bellucci Marin connected with Itito who fired a shot over the head of Vacca for his second goal of the year.
 
Before the break, the Bulldogs Braiden Hamilton slowed the tri-color's momentum and cut the Berg lead in half. 
 
Minutes after halftime, the Bulldogs knotted the match at 2-2 when Justin Sarka slotted a shot past senior keeper Sigurd Ilestad. Ilestad finished with three saves against the Bulldogs.
 
The Student Princes maintained the attacking pressure, but could not secure a go-ahead goal before the Bulldogs struck again.
 
In the 75^th minute Adrian's Tristian Slagle snuck an attempt past Ilestad to earn a 3-2 lead for the Bulldogs. The Berg attack earned multiple chances to collect an equalizer in the waning stages of the match, but could not capitalize.
 
The loss drops the Berg men to 4-5-0 overall heading into Ohio Athletic Conference competition. The tri-color will host the Wilmington College Quakers on Saturday, October 2 at the Hidden Valley Soccer Complex.
 
Kick off is slated for 1 p.m.