just my thoughts...
When I used to play sports I would get a lot more pumped when we would play a good team. I would come out ready to play at 100%. Sometimes on lesser competition, I would come out and play very lax (as if I knew that we should win). When you come out flat and they play up you can try to dig yourself out, but you become tense. You don't play like yourself. Some people play down to their competition. (not on purpose) I am not saying that the performance tonight is excusable, but I am hoping this is what has happened. Just going by my experience.