LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Sophomore Colin O'Brien scored the first goal of his collegiate career on Sunday night, but it was only enough to cut a 2-0 LMU lead in half. The American University men's soccer team fell 2-1 to the lions, dropping a physical game in which both teams were issued red cards. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• O'Brien's goal was AU's only shot on target, and one of two shots total for the Eagles. LMU registered 12 shots, putting four on target. 
• Freshman Finn O'Brien picked up his first career assist on the goal, with senior Sebastian Garces collecting the secondary assist. 
• Evan Tubbs made his collegiate debut in goal, making two saves. The freshman sprawled off his line twice in the first half to breakup two breakaway chances for Elie Bokota as well.  
• LMU generated six corners to one for American. 
• AU has been given a red card in back-to-back matches. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The home side was on the front foot early, establishing itself in the attacking third and firing three shots before breaking through in the 25^th minute. Ismael Mane rose to a corner kick feed from Ismail Nieves, putting a well-placed header in the top left corner beyond the fully-extended Tubbs.
• Staying in control of the match, the Lions doubled their lead just five minutes later. Anthony Boyadjian made a run up the right side of the box and delivered a low cross to the middle through traffic, where Hugo Taveres put a right-footed shot low and passed Tubbs. LMU quickly had a 2-0 lead. 
• The Eagles found a response nine minutes into the second half through an excellent breakout that led to the goal from O'Brien. Ian Webb-Johnson fed Garces in the midfield, who got the ball out wide to Finn O'Brien on the right side. The freshman delivered a well-weighted ball to his teammate with the same last name, and he one-timed his shot to the top left corner. 
• Now a one-goal game, the match became more physical and much of the action came in the midfield. LMU took two shots that were both off target before Mason Miller was given a red card after a slide tackle in the 75^th minute. Initially a yellow, it was upgraded to a red card after an official review. 
• The Eagles defended well while down a man, allowing just one shot that was saved by Tubbs with ease. 
• In the 87th minute, Bokota was given a red card following a skirmish in front of AU's net. In match's final minutes, the teams were back to even strength at 10 men apiece.  
• American sent numbers forward and was able to get the ball deep into the attacking third twice before the final whistle, but created just one shot from Ezzahir that went off target. 

UP NEXT

• The Eagles are back in D.C. next week for their home opener against #1 Vermont, playing their first game at the newly renovated Reeves Field. 

Keep Up With Us

• For the latest on American University Women's Soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_MSoccer) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).