MARSHALL, Texas- With six matches remaining in the regular season, the East Texas Baptist University men's soccer team will take their talents on the road for this week's contests. ETBU will first travel to Tyler, Texas, where they will battle the University of Texas Tyler on Thursday, Oct. 12. The team will close out their two game road trip with a meeting with the University of the Ozarks on Saturday, Oct. 14. Coming into this week's round of American Southwest Conference games, the Tigers are 4-6-1 overall and 0-5 in ASC matches.
Entering Thursday's matchup with the Patriots, ETBU will look to pick up their first conference win but improve on their all-time record against Texas Tyler. In the first 16 matches, ETBU is 6-9-1 overall, including a 2-1 victory last year at home. Texas Tyler is 5-2-3 overall and 4-1-1 in ASC play this season. Leandro Fernandez leads the Patriots with five goals on 33 shots this season.
Finishing off the road trip in Clarksville, Ark., ETBU will face Ozarks on Saturday. Coming into the weekend contest, ETBU is 18-5-1 in 24 matches played against the Eagles. The Tigers last picked up a victory over the Ozarks in 2013, winning an overtime thriller 3-2. The Eagles are 6-4 overall and 3-3 in ASC matches. Leading the Eagles in goals made is Bryce Young, with three on the season.
Silas Sangano and
Daniel Rutter man the offensive effort for the Tigers this season. Entering the road trip, both have three goals made on a combined 13 shots coming on goal.
Jordan Burke shares second place with
Thomas Sanford in goals made. Both Sanford and Burke have two goals to their name this season, with 10 shots coming right at the net.
Bryant Botello has anchored the goalkeeping for ETBU, recording 43 saves on a 71.7 save percentage for the year.
With the season nearing its end, head coach
Chris Crawford understands the importance of every game going forward.
"We've got to play every game like it's our last. We've put ourselves behind the 8-ball and the guys know that. It doesn't matter who we play. We're going to have to create opportunities and move off the ball. Our guys always rise to the occasion," Crawford said.
The Tigers will battle Texas Tyler on Thursday, Oct. 12, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
