Picking up their first conference defeat Tuesday, the Cyclones fell to Sullivan South, 1-0, inside Citizens Bank Stadium.
In a match that was played mostly in the midfield, the Rebels snuck in a goal in the 47th minute as a free kick landed in front of the goal before being booted in.
“We weren’t as sharp today as we had to be,” said Elizabethton head coach Bill McClay. “I thought for the first ten to fifteen minutes we looked good. Then we just seemed to stop connecting passes.
“We didn’t seem to be running for each other,” added McClay. “Some of my players were doing some things characteristically.”
Through the evening, the game’s officials made calls that many of the Elizabethton fans found controversial.
“I think the fouls were fourteen to three,” said McClay. “So I don’t think the play was as lopsided. It was a little frustrating.”
Overall, the Cyclones had seven shot compared to South’s six on the evening. For Elizabethton, Drew Reagan had three shots while Teagan Bernshausen managed two shots.
The loss moves the Cyclones to 2-1 in the Three Rivers Conference and 3-5 overall.
Elizabethton will host Hampton today before playing KACHEA at home on Friday.