That’s all the New Ulm Eagles boys soccer team has done this season, however, rattling off 12 consecutive wins without a loss.

But that old saying came true for the Eagles on Tuesday as the Tri-City United Titans handed New Ulm its first loss of the season with a 2-1 victory in a Big South Conference, Black Division game at New Ulm High School.

New Ulm (12-1, 4-1) defeated TCU (9-3, 4-1) 1-0 on Sept. 4 in Montgomery, so the Titans did all they could to hand the Eagles a receipt during New Ulm’s Homecoming week. The Titans were able to take down the Eagles thanks to a go-ahead goal by Angel Ruiz Gomez in the 56th minute of play. Ruiz Gomez also had the first goal of the game.

New Ulm outshot TCU 12-8 in the game and controlled possession of the ball, but the Titans made the most of their opportunities and were kept in check thanks to the hands of goalie Nicolas Mendez.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm senior Cole Frederick (21) kicks the ball from midfield during a Big South Conference boys soccer game against Tri-City United at New Ulm High School on Tuesday night.

“These guys are tough,” Eagles head coach Tim Plocher said. “I always look forward to playing them these guys. If there’s ever a time to lose, it would be now. We don’t want to lose going forward, obviously, you don’t want to lose ever, but sometimes it’s inevitable. Sometimes things don’t go your way.

“Their goalie made some amazing saves and they had some really good shots. We broke down a little bit, but it’s something we can work on [Wednesday] and look to St. Peter on Thursday.”

The Eagles finish up Big South Conference, Black Division play at St. Peter at 6:45 p.m. Thursday night.

TCU was first on the board in the 28th minute when Ruiz Gomez dribbled in a straight line to the right of the net before turning and firing a shot that got by Eagles goalie Austin Krohn.

Ocampo looked to tie it up minutes later when he got a pass off to Levi Johnson, who was tripped in near the net by Mendez. After a discussing by the referees, a penalty kick was awarded, which saw Ocampo bury the PK kick to tie the game in the 35th minute.

New Ulm had the early advantage in the second half with the first four shots on goal, three from Logan Goblirsch, but TCU’s first shot on goal in the second half came off the foot of Ruiz Gomez, who gave his team the lead with that shot into the right side of the net.

Ocampo made a late break for the net in desperation to get the score tied up again in the closing minutes. During that late break, he collided with a defender and appeared hurt his ankle, having to be helped to the sideline. He ended up returning in the final 30 seconds, but it was too late for the Eagles as the Titans handed them their first defeat of the year.

With an unbeaten streak on the line and a chance to clinch a Big South title game for the second year in a row with a win, the Eagles had a lot to play for on Tuesday. With that, Plocher still didn’t think nerves played a role in the defeat.

“I don’t think it was nerves, I think it was reverse, I think they were too comfortable,” Plocher said. “When they’re on a hot streak and they don’t know what it feels like to lose, then a team comes at them and wants to take down the king and take the throne, so to say, they come and do it and it hits hard. But once they know how it feels to lose now and we don’t like that feeling, we’ll take it to our teams Thursday, Saturday and Monday.”