Late Push Not Enough for Crusaders Against McMurry

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas men's soccer team lost their non-conference matchup with McMurry University 2-1 on Sunday.  They fall to 2-4-2 on the year.

The Warhawks dominated the first 20 minutes of the game, enjoying nearly all of the possession chances on goal.  But it would be the Crusaders who struck first with a goal by Alex Melgoza in the 20th minute.  After receiving the ball from Victor Salvo as the Crusaders were countering, Melgoza beat his man down the left wing, took the ball all the way inside the 18, and buried it in the back of the net from 10 yards out to open the scoring.

Dallas came out of the water break, given about midway through each half because of the scorching heat, a seemingly renewed team as the play was much more even from there.  Despite the Crusaders posing a much more frequent threat, the Warhawks were able to level the game up in the 27th minute from a throw in routine.  They had the big throw working all day from anywhere inside 30 yards, and a throw, flick, and a kick saw them find the back of the net.

McMurry would take the lead for good in the 33rd minute with a screamer of a goal, scored from nearly 30 yards out and curling off the outside of the foot into the upper side netting.

The roles reversed to a degree in the second half, with Dallas enjoying a good portion of the possession and threatening quite often, while McMurry seemed perfectly content to sit back on their heels and launch the ball haplessly forward to their strikers.  In the end, it was difficult to separate the two sides in terms of number of goal scoring chances, but Dallas looked the better side for much of the half.

The best chance of the half came from a free kick by Victor Salvo, taken from just outside the box.  His curling effort seemed destined for the top bin, bit it skimmed off the right post and out for a goal kick.  McMurry would just hold the Crusaders off the seal the win.

Anthony Gonzalez was stellar between the sticks all game, coming up with a pair of otherworldly saves to keep the game close.  Aidan Cady had another brilliant performance leading the back line as well.

Up Next

Conference play begins for the Crusaders this coming weekend.  They will hit the road to face Austin College in their conference opener, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1.