MARSHALL, Tx – On a warm night at Cornish Field, the East Texas Baptist University men's soccer team held off LeTourneau University, 2-1, for their first American Southwest Conference victory this season. ETBU is now 6-6-1 overall, 1-4-0 in the ASC, and 17-9-3 all-time against LETU.
ETBU had a majority of possession in the match and it paid off well. The Tigers took 17 shots to the Yellowjackets' 10 while putting nine on goal to LETU's four. Matt Dieb and
Luke Hunsinger both netted goals in the match with
Bruno Palmieri and
Justus Crow picking up assists. Both Palmieri and Crow had three shots each with two on goal.
The first half may have been scoreless, but it was nothing short of exciting. The Tigers pressed hard the entire first 45 minutes, but were unable to score. The match went to the half tied at zero. Tristan Welchel had saves in the 15
th and 24
th minutes to keep it at 0-0.
The scoring opened in the 48th minute, when Dieb found himself on the end of a shot by Palmieri that was saved by LeTourneau's keeper. Dieb sent the ball back over the head of the goalie to make it 1-0 in the 48
th minute. Just over two minutes later, Hunsinger sent a blistering shot into the net off a short pass from Crow to double the Tigers' advantage, 2-0, with 40 minutes left in the match. LeTourneau would pull one back with just over five minutes remaining in the match to make it exciting, but it would not be enough as ETBU held off the late charge, 2-1.
Tristan Welchel had a good day between the sticks with three great saves and a couple of key clearances.
The Tigers will play their next match in Clarksville, Ark., against the University of the Ozarks on Thursday, October 20th, at 3:30 pm.
