MOUNT VERNON — Another overtime strike by an opponent sent the Central College men's soccer team home a 2-1 loser, this time at the hands of Cornell College on Wednesday night.
           
Central slips to 0-3-0 on the season, while the Rams move to 2-0-1.
           
Coming off a disappointing 2-1 overtime loss to Iowa Wesleyan University on Sunday, it was a similar result against Cornell.
           
"Things just aren't falling for us right now," coach Garry Laidlaw said. "I feel that in some ways we've been the better team in all three games we've played. Unfortunately, we're not capitalizing enough at the front end of the pitch. When you do that, it sort of amplifies things at the other end."
           
Central got its lone goal 25 seconds into the second half coming off the foot of forward Ian Meentemeyer (junior, Hartsburg, Mo., Southern Boone County HS). An assist was credited to midfielder Miguel Pina (senior, Chicago, Ill., Taft HS).
           
"Ian's been playing well since he came in this preseason," Laildaw said. "He's getting into some good positions and giving us a chance."
           
Meentemeyer, Pina, forward Aroni Niyikiza (senior, Cedar Rapids, Washington HS) and midfielder Brant Mueller (freshman, Davenport, Bettendorf) all had two shot attempts apiece. As a team, Central was out shot12-10 but led the Rams in corner kick attempts 9-5.
           
Three minutes into the second overtime, Cornell's David Berger scored from the left side to give the Rams the win.
           
The Dutch return home to face Saint Mary's University (Minn.) on Saturday at 5 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/central/
           
"We've got to keep working," Laidlaw said. "Our resolve is being tested right now. We're going to keep working and we believe in time these results are going to start falling our way."