WESTMINSTER, Md. - First-year Nicholas Clarke scored his second goal of the season as the McDaniel College men's soccer team fell to Juniata in the ECAC Men's Soccer Championship for the second-straight year, 2-1 Sunday at the Soccer Complex.

The Green Terror (9-6-4) fell to the Eagles a year ago on the road in the ECAC semifinals by the same score on Nov. 17, 2024. Juniata also scored the game's first two goals in that contest.

On Sunday, Jayden Gaynor scored in the 18th minute to give the visitors the early 1-0 lead. It was his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

The Eagles (8-5-7) maintained its one-goal lead into halftime after holding McDaniel to just one shot in the first half while taking nine of their own. Junior Tate Roth had three first-half saves to keep the Green Terror within striking distance.

McDaniel flipped the script in the second half, holding a 13-4 advantage in shots, but had just four on goal, three of which were turned away by Maxwell Mattioni.

In 19 starts this season, Mattioni has allowed just 12 goals for a 0.64 goals-against average while posting an .821 save percentage.

Gavin Rauhut scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute when he slotted the ball into the back right corner off a lead pass from Jase Colino. A year ago, Rauhut assisted Colino on the Eagles' first goal of the game.

The Green Terror were able to avoid the shutout when Clarke scored in the 87th minute, but could not get another shot on goal in the final three minutes as Juniata kept its hope for a second-straight ECAC title alive.

Sunday marked the third consecutive meeting between the McDaniel and Juniata that was decided by one goal.

McDaniel finishes the season with its second consecutive postseason appearance and fourth in the last eight seasons under head coach Steve Corrieri. It was also the program's ninth ECAC tournament appearance.