Defense stalls but No. 2 Trinity edges Men's Soccer Sunday
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of Dallas men's soccer team (4-3, 1-2 SCAC) provided a strong defense most of Sunday's match against second-ranked Trinity University (6-0, 2-0 SCAC). However, the unblemished Tigers found the back of the net and won 2-0.
Dallas was outshot 30-7, but did not allow a goal until Trinity's Austin Michaelis connected on the go-ahead scoring play at the 67:08 minute mark. The Crusaders shifted immediately to pressing and maintained the majority of their possession in the final 20 minutes of the match. However, UD was unable to find an equalizer and the home team sealed the win on a Ryan Hunter goal in the 87th minute. Michaelis did assist the second goal to give him a game-high 3 points.
The Crusaders defense bent but never broke in the first 67 minutes. This included a scoreless first stanza by both squads. Trinity held a 13-2 edge in shots. Tino Gamueda (Lubbock, Texas) made four of his five saves in that half and the team had three saves. Dallas had done well controlling the pace, and then at the 30:45 mark, Trinity's Zac Treu punched a shot that rebounded off Gamueda. Consecutive attempts by Zac Treu and Daniel Ruano were denied by defenders in the Crusaders' white jerseys to keep the game knotted.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Sean Taylor (Austin, Texas) and Naseem Said (Pearland, Texas) knocked UD's two shots on goal. Said's shot on goal was the first on frame and was at the 71:52 mark.
- Five of UD's shots came in the second half.
- Gamueda made five saves against seven shots faced in 90 minutes. The Crusaders totaled 11 saves with four coming from defenders.
- Trinity earned 14 corner kicks compared to one by the guests.
- Dallas committed 16 fouls while the Tigers were charged with 13.
- Laurence Wyke and Michaelis paced TU's offense with five shots apiece. A quartet of Tigers compiled three shots. As a team, Trinity placed 11 shots on frame.
QUOTABLE
"We played an exceptional team today. Tactically we were sound and had a shot at grabbing a point up until the 87th minute. Team defense was exceptional today. The boys managed a number of blocks right on the goal line." - Head Coach David Hoffmann on his team's play with the second ranked Trinity Tigers
UP NEXT
Dallas returns home after a 3-3 road trip and host Southwestern University next Friday at 3 p.m. The Crusaders will also host Texas Lutheran University on September 25 with a 12 p.m. kickoff. This begins a six-game home stand.