The Washington University men’s soccer team had plenty of opportunities but failed to make the chances count in a loss to University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in double overtime Sunday at Francis Field, dropping their record to 7-5-1.

Head coach Joe Clarke went with his preferred starting lineup for this game, picking regulars such as junior forward Ryan Sproule, sophomore midfielder Makio Yamamoto and senior backs Anthony Law and Chris Rieger. The Bears started the game off well, dominating possession and shots for all of the first half. Sproule tested the Warhawk keeper in the 10th minute, forcing a strong save from Chris Lucatorto.

Carrie Phillips | Student Life

Senior goalie Colin McCune kicks the ball in the Bears’ 1-0 loss at home against University of Rochester on Oct. 8.The Bears fell to Wisconsin-Whitewater, 2-1, in double overtime Sunday.

Lucatorto was challenged again by freshman Andrew Brunetti in the 39th minute, but Brunetti was unable to convert. By the time the dust settled on the first half, Wash. U. had registered 11 shots to Whitewater’s two, but the score remained level.

The second half started out poorly for Wash. U.; they conceded early in the 50th minute to Whitewater’s Peter Raymonds. The Red and Green struck back, however, and it was junior Ben Strozewski who equalized, finishing off an assist by Rieger after Brunetti had lofted a free kick from near the midline into the penalty area.

After leveling the score, Wash. U. dominated the rest of the half, creating chance after chance. Lucatorto was forced to make three saves on attempts by Rieger and Law, increasing his tally to five and keeping the Warhawks in the game. After 90 minutes, the score was 1-1, with neither team giving ground to the other.

Whitewater began to apply pressure of their own in the first overtime period, registering three shots to Wash. U.’s one. Neither team could find a winner, however, and so, the match continued to a second extra period.

Whitewater finally broke through in the second overtime. After senior goalkeeper Colin McCune saved a free kick, the ball fell to Raymonds, who crossed it into a crowded penalty area, where it deflected off a Wash. U. defender for a game-winning own goal.

After going 6-0-1 in the first seven games of the season, the Red and Green find themselves in a bit of a skid to 7-5-1. If Clarke wants to avoid another early postseason exit, he will have to find a way to replicate the high scoring offense of the first few games, and bounce back from the current streak of bad results.

Perhaps one possible route to success is to help Sproule to regain his early form. After getting off to a hot start early, bagging five goals in his first five games, Sproule has yet to find the net in eight games but has certainly helped elsewhere, contributing two assists during that time. If Sproule gets back into form, the Bears will be a force to be reckoned with, and will be much more dangerous than they have been recently. The potential remains for the Red and Green, but only three regular season games remain for Clarke and company to iron out the issues before they begin to loom large.

The Bears get their next chance to bounce back Friday, facing off against No. 23 Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass.