The men’s soccer team lost their first game of the season and the top spot in the OUA East Division Wednesday night, falling 1-0 to the Carleton Ravens.

Head coach Chris Gencarelli said the team came into the game with the right mindset.

“I don’t think we felt the pressure of staying undefeated,” he said. “We came up here and we played hard … It just wasn’t our day.”

The game was decided in the opening minutes, when a Ravens throw-in led to a scramble in front of the Gaels’ net.

Despite Gaels defenders blocking a couple of attempts, Carleton defender Christophe Laberge Perrault eventually beat goalkeeper Dylan Maxwell, ending his shutout streak at approximately 382 minutes.

One goal was enough for the Ravens, as the rest of the game passed without incident.

“It was a pretty hard fought match, pretty defensive both ways,” Gencarelli said. “We just couldn’t really create much going forward.”

Coming into the game, the Gaels and Ravens were ranked first and second in the OUA East, and 5th and 10th in the CIS’s weekly top 10.

As a result of the Gaels’ loss, Carleton jumps into first place in the OUA East, two points ahead of Queen’s.

After playing Laurentian and Nipissing last weekend, Wednesday’s game was the Gaels’ third in five days.

But Gencarelli said the team can’t look past their game against RMC on Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to having some time to just train, and practice some of the things we’re seeing in games.”

The Gaels beat the Paladins 5-0 in their season opener. RMC plays host to the Gaels Saturday at 3:15 p.m.