NORTH CANTON, OHIO – When senior forward Dylan Ruiz scored less than two minutes into Saturday afternoon's match at Walsh University, it looked like the Roberts Wesleyan College men's soccer team might be on its way to a second consecutive road win to start the season.
The Cavaliers had other ideas.
Walsh scored four straight goals to hand the Redhawks (1-1) their first loss of the season.
"We started out really strong and just kind of went flat," Roberts coach Scott Reber said. "I don't have any explanation other than it just wasn't our day."
Thursday was the Redhawks' day as Ruiz recorded a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Malone University. Junior Justin Robertson assisted on Ruiz's goal at the 1:49 mark on Saturday before Walsh scored twice in each half to pull away.
Jared Gibbons made five saves for Roberts, which was outshot 17-10 on the afternoon.
Reber said he was proud of the character his team displayed on Saturday and that the matches will help Roberts improve as it prepares for its home opener against Saint Ainselm at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
"We learned a lot about ourselves on this trip," Reber said. "We saw a lot of good things on Thursday and found out some things that we need to address today. We'll regroup on Monday, work on some things and get back at it."