Crusaders and Yellow Jackets Fight to a Stalemate

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas men's soccer team's non-conference matchup with Howar Payne University ended in a 0-0 draw on Friday.

This will be a result that is difficult for both teams to swallow.  The Yellow Jackets will come away from this game, and perhaps rightfully so, thinking they saw enough possession of the ball in the attacking third to come away with the win.  While the Crusaders will come away knowing they were not at their best offensively today.

That being said, Dallas formed a brick wall in defense, causing HPU a great deal of frustration in the final end of the pitch.  Though Anthony Gonzalez tallied his second highest save total of the season (7), most of his work was pedestrian as the back line in front of him forced mostly low quality chances from the Yellow Jackets.

Dallas started brightly in the second half after struggling for all of the first 45 minutes, but couldn't capitalize on the few quality chances they were able to create.  Despite not being at the top of their game, the Crusaders created what were arguably the two best chances of the game.  Evan Corsiglia and Ben Utz combined nicely to penetrate to 18 yard box in the 63rd minute, with Corsiglia at the end of the move.  His shot was heavily contested, but he got a strong foot on it, driving it toward the bottom left corner, but HPU's keeper was equal to the task.

In the 68th minute, Matthew Villareal found himself on the end of a low cross near the ege of the box on the back post.  He drove the shot low and through a crowd of people, but the Yellow Jackets keeper once again came up with a strong save to keep the game scoreless.  That would be the last, high percentage chance for either team the rest of the match.

Up Next

The Crusaders are back in action on Sunday in a non-conference matchup with Colorado College.  Kick-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.