Men's Soccer Recap (Week 1) - Around the SCAC

Men's Soccer Recap (Week 1) - Around the SCAC

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Thanks to its win over ninth-ranked Texas-Tyler, Trinity University took over the top spot in the first week's NSCAA/Continental Tire top 25 poll. The Tigers (2-0) jumped up three spots from their preseason ranking of fourth.

AROUND THE SCAC

Austin College opened the 2012 season with a 5-0 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Kangaroos and Cru went into the intermission scoreless and it was not until the 55th minute that a goal was scored when UMHB’s Jordan Freeman put the Cru on top for good. The ‘Roos were outshot 18-10 but held a slim 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. Austin College returns to action on Sept. 4th when they host Howard Payne.

Centenary opened up its 2012 season with a 1-0 overtime win over Schreiner University. The Gents got the game winning goal from Zachary Kidder in the 99th minute off a feed from Gabriel Zahm. The game was evenly played as both the Gents and Mountaineers tallied nine shots and six corner kicks a piece. Centenary returns to action on Sept. 8th when Howard Payne makes a visit to Mayo Field.

Senior forward Daniel Wright scored the ‘Golden Goal’ 6:57 into overtime to give Colorado College a 3-2 victory over the University of Texas at Dallas in the season opener for both teams on Friday at CC’s Washburn Field. Junior midfielder Sean Parham factored in on all three scores as the Tigers overcame a two-goal first-half deficit. On the deciding play, Parham took a pass from senior forward Matt Fechter in the midfield and began to dribble toward the Comets' goal. After spotting his fellow co-captain making a run on the right side, he slid a pass through the defense and Wright buried the crossing shot into the left side of the net for his third career game winner. CC's comeback began in the 54th minute when Fechter took a crossing pass from Parham and ripped a shot from the top of the box that beat the UTD goalkeeper at the left post. A little more than 15 minutes later, Parham tied the game when he got his head on Fechter's shot and sent the ball over passed the Comets’ keeper. It marked the second time Parham registered a goal and an assist in the same game and his first game with two assists. Fechter notched a goal and an assist in the same game for the seventh time in his career. Senior goalkeeper Forrest Marowitz finished with three saves, including a sliding stop at the right post with 6:34 to play in regulation. CC has now won seven of its last eight season openers, including overtime victories each of the last two seasons. Colorado College plays four games this week, beginning on Monday against Nebraska Wesleyan University. The Tigers visit Division II CU-Colorado Springs on Wednesday, and then venture to the Pacific Northwest to face George Fox University and the University of Puget Sound on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Dallas
(1-1) began its 2012 season with a .500 record over the weekend. On Saturday the Crusaders were in a defensive struggle with Concordia (Texas). Freshman forward Cristian Govea elated his teammates in overtime with a 94th-minute score, giving Dallas the 1-0 victory. Govea put one on the near post from just outside the six-yard box that beat Concordia goalkeeper Nick Martin. In the shutout bid, senior goalkeeper James Kerin recorded the win, making seven saves from 31 total shots. Sunday brought the Crusaders to Brownwood, Texas, for a bout with Howard Payne. In yet another tightly contested contest, there was only one goal in the game. Unfortunately for Dallas, this time they were on the wrong end of the equation. The Yellow Jackets' Garrison Pate netted one past Kerin in the 54th-minute for the game winner. Despite the lone blemish, Kerin registered five saves from 20 cumulative shots. This week, Dallas will host Schreiner University in at 2 p.m. tilt at Crusader Field.

Southwestern had had a flurry of games early on this season, playing three games in four days. The Pirates opened with a huge win over Texas Lutheran University on Friday night, using four goals from Evan Perkins as a catapult to a 7-1 victory. Saturday, the Pirates came home for the first time and faced Willamette University in a seesaw battle. SU always had the answer just in time to keep the Bearcats from taking the win and after two overtime periods, the game ended in a 2-2 tie. On a sultry Monday afternoon Southwestern hosted nationally-ranked UT Tyler. The Patriots scored in the first six minutes of the contest and added one more just before halftime to take a 2-0 lead into the break, but the Pirates turned up the heat and relentlessly attacked UTT's defensive line. Their hard work paid off in the 53rd minute on a goal by Zach Faulkner but despite having numerous close calls the Pirates couldn't get the equalizer to go as they fell 2-1 in a well-played contest. The Pirates hit the road again this weekend to face Hardin Simmons and UT Dallas in a pair of neutral site contests in San Antonio.

No. 1 Trinity
opened its season with a pair of wins at home, defeating ninth-ranked University of Texas-Tyler and Mississippi College. In a showdown between top 10 teams in the nation, the Tigers opened the year with a 4-1 win over UT-Tyler. Trinity was able to get some measure of payback after losing to UT-Tyler in the NCAA Playoffs last season. Four different Tiger players scored in the game, with the eventual game-winner coming from Brian Hines in the 47th minute. Yuri Ribeiro and Nima Naderi had two assists each in the win. On Sunday afternoon, Trinity earned its first shutout of the season with a 4-0 win over Mississippi College. Goalkeeper Matt Cardone recorded three saves to keep the Choctaws off the board, and Ribeiro netted a goal in each half. Kyle Porter contributed two assists – including one on the eventual game-winner in the first half of play. Trinity will remain at home for another full week of action. Monday afternoon, the Tigers will take on Willamette University to finish off its Labor Day holiday weekend. This weekend, Trinity will host the University of Texas-Dallas and Hardin-Simmons University on Friday and Saturday. Both games kick off at 7:30 p.m.  The Tigers tied both teams 1-1 last season in Richardson, Texas.

To view the entire SCAC Kicks Weekly for week one, click here.
Happy Holidays from the SCAC!
December 25, 2012 Happy Holidays from the SCAC!