Box Score MARSHALL, Texas – It was a tale of two halves for both the East Texas Baptist University and University of Texas-Tyler men's soccer programs as ETBU uses two second half goals to beat UT-Tyler 2-1. ETBU improves to 6-3 on the season, and picks up their first American Southwest Conference win of the season to improve to 1-1 in ASC play. UT-Tyler falls to 4-4 overall, and 0-3 in ASC play.
UT-Tyler kicked the scoring off for the match in the 24th minute on a goal from Lucas Pereira. Pereira shot a ball that ETBU goalkeeper Bryant Botello could not keep hold of as it slid into the bottom right corner to give UT-Tyler the early advantage 1-0. UT-Tyler outshot ETBU 14-3 in the first half.
ETBU roared back in the second half with a goal in the 47th minute to knot the game up at 1-1. Dominic Wood scored his first career goal for ETBU as he fired a rocket of a goal into the upper right corner of the net from 25 yards out. ETBU was not done in the second half as Joel Ramirez scored his fifth goal of the season to give ETBU the game-winning goal in the 75th minute. Ramirez played a volley off of a UT-Tyler defender and sent the ball into the back of the net to give ETBU the advantage, 2-1.
In the contest, ETBU had 12 saves on the night, nine by Botello as he improves to 5-3 on the season. UT-Tyler outshot ETBU 21-6, with 13 shots on goal compared to ETBU's four. Giancarlo Ayanegui received the loss for UT-Tyler in the net.
“The first half we came out a little flat, but in the second half we were dialed in. At halftime I told the guys we were still in it, let's go get a goal early, and eliminate our mistakes. We had some huge saves from our goal keeper (Bryant Botello) that kept us in the game. We know we are a physical team, we are fast, and we have a lot of guys with heart. That is our motto this year being a second half team, we have embraced that. I am proud for them because I know they wanted it,” said head men's soccer coach Chris Crawford.
ETBU returns to action Saturday October 1st against the University of the Ozarks with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The match will follow the women's soccer match between both universities.
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Joel Ramirez Goal to Take the Lead
