The Oglethorpe men's soccer team fell to Texas-Tyler 2-1 Sunday afternoon on the second day of the Sonny Carter Invitational at Emory. The Stormy Petrels came back from an early one-goal deficit to tie the score at halftime, but the Patriots answered with another goal in the second half to re-take the lead and eventually win the game 2-1. The loss dropped the Petrels to 0-2 on the young season.

Texas-Tyler put their two goals in somewhat against the run of play, as the Petrels outshot the Patriots 16-9 over the course of the contest. However, Texas-Tyler put six of their shots on goal to Oglethorpe's five. 

The Patriots opened the game with a goal in the ninth minute. The Petrels spent the rest of the half in search of an equalizer, and they found it just before halftime. The Petrels won a free kick at the top of the box in the game's 43rd minute. Sophomore midfielder Topher Marshall stepped up and hammered it into the back of the net for his second goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1. The Petrels outshot the Patriots 8-4 over the course of the opening half.

In the second half, Texas-Tyler broke through in the 69th minute, retaking the lead 2-1. The Petrels outshot the Patriots 8-5 over the course of the period as they tried to find an equalizer. However, Texas-Tyler was able to hold on for the victory.

Marshall fired six total shots over the course of the game, putting a pair on target, including his game-tying goal in the first half. Junior goalkeeper Luke Whelan started his first game for Oglethorpe and made four saves on the afternoon. Freshman defender Christian Waegelin earned a spot on the all-tournament team for his efforts over the course of the weekend.

"We outplayed Texas-Tyler for stretches in this game," said Oglethorpe head coach Jon Akin, "but a couple of mistakes led to the two goals. It's still early in the season, so we'll regroup and be ready for our two tough games in Pennsylvania next weekend."

In Pennsylvania, the Petrels will first travel to Grantham to take on national power Messiah at 7 p.m. Friday. Then on Saturday, they'll continue on to Lancaster to take on Franklin and Marshall, who's ranked 12th in the preseason coaches' poll, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.