ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst men's soccer team used a second-half charge to pull within one of the Kalamazoo College Hornets, but their comeback stopped there as the Bluejays fell 2-1 in their season opener. 

Kalamazoo jumped on the scoreboard in the 13th minute. Joshua Robison and Cal Kirchen made good touch passes and the ball found the feet of Josh Brodbine, who chipped the ball right over Elmhurst keeper Nick King. 

The Hornets took a 2-0 lead into the half with a 41st minute, unassisted goal from Kirchen. After deflecting off a scrum of bodies, the ball found Kirchen's feet and he was able to blast it home. 
 

Playing in his first collegiate game, Jake Cohen sparked three Elmhurst second-half chances. First, he found fellow freshman Austin Larsen who had his shot blocked with the goalie on the ground. A couple of minutes later, Cohen dropped in another solid pass, but the Bluejays were unable to generate much on the shot. Tino Lappo saw the next chance, ripping a shot from distance off the crossbar. 

Elmhurst notched their first goal of the season off a penalty kick. A Hornet took down Cohen on the edge of the box setting up a Jeff Kading penalty kick. The Elmhurst defender blasted his shot off of Kalamazoo's Matt Smolinski and into the net. 

Kading had an attempt at a late equalizer, but, with time running out, his free kick sailed just high and wide of the upper 90. 

Kalamazoo out shot Elmhurst 13-12 in the game. The Bluejays' only shot on goal was the Kading penalty kick. Elmhurst drew six corner kicks to Kalamazoo's one. 

Smolinski earned the win, allowing Kading's penalty. In his first start, King allowed two goals and stopped two shots. 

Next up for the Bluejays is the Elmhurst College Tournament this weekend. Elmhurst will host the University of St. Thomas at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5.